Strong North Westerly winds and temperatures of around 36 degrees saw the fire initially progress towards the Jugiong and the Cullinga Mines areas before a change in the wind shifted the spread of the fire with it crossing the Burley Griffin Way near Nubba.

Several haysheds have been burnt to the ground and many hectares of yet to be harvested crops have been destroyed. Recently harvested hay has also been destroyed with many large bales set to smoulder for days.

At this stage many properties have luckily survived the fire with no reports of homes being lost, no doubt due to the diligent efforts of the hardworking fire crews.

Livestock in several areas have unfortunately not been as lucky.

The Jugiong and Cullinga Mines roads as well as the Burley Griffin Way between Harden and Wallendbeen and sections of the Wombat Road were closed on Tuesday due to the danger the fires proved to motorists.

The road closures meant that many school children could not make it home and they had to be ferried back to the Bus Depot in Harden and await their parent’s arrival.

Many properties were also evacuated, including those along the Wombat Road and Nubba areas.

Water bombing aircraft were also brought in to assist in the fire fighting efforts and to help track the spread of the fire.

Milder weather conditions on Tuesday evening allowed fire fighters to strengthen containment lines along the fires edges. Light rain that fell late Tuesday afternoon eased the fire threat and at 8pm on Tuesday the alert status was downgraded to ‘Watch and Act’.

Over 40 tankers and 120 personnel have attended the scene with many units coming in from the surrounding shires to assist. Crews are working around the clock to black out fire edges along the perimeter. On Tuesday evening there were still many trees well alight, and the mop up of the area is likely to continue for days.

Harden Shire Council Chambers became the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on Tuesday where all emergency service representatives and those from other organisations such as health and veterinarian fields came together, which is the first time that the need to form a EOC has occurred in the Harden Shire.

At this stage the cause of the fire is unknown but has been labelled ‘suspicious’, and investigations are continuing.