The final opponents to Premier Daniel Andrews' controversial deal with firefighters have been sacked or quit as the bitter dispute continues to hound his government.

CFA chief executive Lucinda Nolan quit on Friday afternoon, less than two hours after the defiant board was formally sacked.

The board and chief executive follow Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett who sensationally quit cabinet last week over the workplace deal for CFA's paid firefighters.

One axed board member, Michael Freshwater, warned that Premier Andrews had "started the demise of the CFA as it was known. And it's going to take a lot to build it back up again."

And the acting chairman of the sacked CFA Board, John Peberdy​, raised concerns for independent governance in the state, calling for an end to the spate of board sackings over the past 18 months, including water authority boards and Ambulance Victoria.

"I hope we can have an end to the bloodletting of boards. We are people, not a commodity. We have to act as independent bodies," Mr Peberdy told The Age.

Ms Garrett and the board are vehemently opposed to the deal because of fears it would undermine the role of volunteers, hand undue control to the union and be in breach of the state's equality and diversity laws.

The board refused to sign the deal, citing legal advice that it was unlawful.

For months, Premier Andrews backed Ms Garrett but following a meeting with United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall he backed a deal.

On a dramatic afternoon new Emergency Services Minister James Merlino announced the first five of nine replacements, with the existing members notified by email that they had been axed.

Ms Nolan, who had a 30 year career in Victoria Police, reaching the rank of Deputy Commissioner before being appointed to the CFA by Labor last November, resigned less than two hours later.

"Since coming to the CFA I have taken every approach possible to protect and serve the community as my utmost priority; and to uphold the foundation on which the organisation is built," Ms Nolan said.

Asked if it was a condition for new board members to sign the deal, Mr Merlino said the government's view was to finalise the dispute and that all appointments were made on merit.

"My expectation is that this board will make a fresh start and that fresh start includes ending this dispute."

He said the board's first priority would be to resolve the bitter pay dispute.

Mr Andrews did not front the press on Friday, instead meeting with volunteer CFA captains at Patterson River brigade.

Mr Peberdy said the board "could not sleep at night" if the EBA was signed. He said he would be "deeply saddened" if the reform agenda worked on with Ms Garrett was stopped.

"The CFA must look different in the future, it has to adapt, and this EBA did not allow that."

Mr Freshwater, a volunteer firefighter in East Gippsland for more than 40 years described the sacking as "gut-wrenching" and that the episode had left him "deflated".

The board's sacking was "nearly an unfair dismissal...We were doing what the legal people told us to do," Mr Freshwater said.

"I think it's going to have a huge impact, and I think the Andrews government will feel the effect of that in 2018."

Both men strongly defended the work and competence of the sacked board.

The opposition quickly moved to put pressure on the new board, threatening that if it won the next election in 2018, it would be sacked if it endorsed the deal.

"Daniel Andrews has now bullied two senior women out of their jobs in just one week," Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said.

Under the CFA Act four members of the nine person board must be nominated by Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria. Mr Merlino has now asked them for nominations, but said the board was operational.

Former Fair Work Commissioner Greg Smith is the new chair of the Board, with chief executive and partner at Cornwall Stodart lawyers Michelle McLean deputy.

Former chief executive of the bushfire recovery authority Pam White will also serve on the board, alongside Dr Gillian Starks and Simon Weir.

The board has appointed health sector executive Frances Diver CEO. Ms Diver, who has worked for more than a decade in what is now the Department of Health and Human Services, will start in the role on June 27. Chief Fire Officer Joe Buffone will act as CFA CEO until then.