Residents from the Latrobe Valley say they have been vindicated by the Hazelwood mine fire inquiry finding that last year's blaze most likely contributed to deaths in the region.

Key points: Inquiry found Hazelwood fire 'likely' contributed to rise in deaths

Inquiry found Hazelwood fire 'likely' contributed to rise in deaths Latrobe Valley residents say they feel vindicated by report

Latrobe Valley residents say they feel vindicated by report Health Department criticised for their handling of the disaster

Health Department criticised for their handling of the disaster Former chief health officer says she had community's 'best interests' in mind

The fire burned inside the mine for 45 days and shrouded Morwell and surrounding towns in acrid smoke and ash.

The second inquiry was set up by the Victorian Labor Government, after Professor Adrian Barnett from the Queensland University of Technology told the ABC's 7.30 Victoria program that there was a high probability air pollution from the fire caused 11 deaths.

That 7.30 report came after a campaign by community group Voices of the Valley to have the issue investigated.

The inquiry's report did not make any findings about the number of deaths air pollution from the mine fire could have contributed to.

But it did find that the mine fire most likely contributed to some of the increase in deaths in the Latrobe Valley at the time.

Morwell resident Kiery-Anne Clissold's husband died four months after the fire from a sudden brain aneurysm.

Ms Clissold said he had been healthy before the mine fire, but smoke during the blaze caused him to suffer from headaches, nose bleeds and sore eyes.

She said she lost her best friend.

"He should have been beside me for another 30 years, he was only 48," she said.

"He left behind two kids and a little granddaughter and we miss him like mad, but hopefully we can make his name mean something and help other people."

Coal mine fire not 'solely responsible'

In its findings the board noted that bushfires that were in the area at the time could also have contributed to deaths in the region, and said the mine fire was not solely responsible.

Smoke from the Hazelwood mine fire shrouded nearby towns in smoke and ash. ( Supplied: Keith Pakenham, CFA )

The report said that epidemiology — the study of the determinants of disease — was "not an exact science".

Accordingly, the report said, there was no "absolute proof" about the findings, but they were "the most reasonable judgement" based on the available evidence.

The report said given the health consequences of breathing in contaminated air over a period of time, it would be surprising if the pollution caused by the mine did not cause some deaths.

"However, because of the imprecise nature of the analysis, it is not possible to attribute any specific death to the mine fire," the report said.

Hazelwood mine operator GDF Suez released a short statement about the inquiry findings.

It noted the board's comments that there was no absolute proof for its findings and said that no specific deaths could be linked to the mine fire.

Health Department factsheets 'incomplete, misleading'

The Victorian Department of Health was the other organisation to have adverse findings made against in the board's report.

The report also found that there were "shortcomings" in how government officials engaged with members of the community regarding the possible health impacts of the fire.

"Unfortunately the Department of Health came to a premature view about the possibility of an increase in deaths in the Latrobe Valley due to the mine fire," the report said.

It said the department needed to demonstrate a more "open and engaged approach" in its dealings with local residents after a defensive response.

The board also heavily criticised the health department's handling of the disaster, finding factsheets published by the department which said the fire had not caused a rise in deaths, were "incomplete, misleading and unbalanced".

Those factsheets had been approved by former chief health officer Dr Rosemary Lester, who later commissioned a report by Melbourne University to look into deaths in the region and to critique Professor Barnett's work.

During the inquiry's hearings, the board was shown emails sent by Dr Lester and other department officials to Melbourne University researcher Dr Louisa Flander, suggesting changes to her work before it was published.

A mother puts a mask on her young son in Morwell to protect him from smoke pollution from the Hazelwood mine fire. ( ABC News. )

The board found that commentary led to substantial changes to Dr Flander's report.

It said there was a real or perceived conflict of interest in Dr Lester being involved in that report.

But Dr Lester denied that.

"I acted professionally at all times with the best interests of the community in mind," she told ABC Statewide Drive Victoria.

"I believe that [regarding] my investigation of the deaths issue, which I took very seriously and commissioned completely independent advice, I don't believe that I have done anything wrong there," she said.

Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the department ignored the concerns of the Latrobe Valley community.

"Again and again members of the Latrobe valley community sent a couple of really strong messages, they've said we felt neglected, abandoned and ignored. Today's report provides some evidence that in fact that was the case," she said.

The inquiry's final stage is looking into the rehabilitation of Latrobe Valley coal mines, with hearings ongoing.