A crew called in the fallen line soon after fire units rushed to the blaze off Mountain Ash Rd at about 1.30pm, Southern Tablelands zone manager Peter Alley said.

The outbreak destroyed some 100 hectares, according to the Rural Fire Service, but landowners thought it could have been slightly more.

The Craig family, who live on Rosemont Rd, 3.6km from its intersection with Windellama Rd, lost 36 hectares. Ground units, a fixed wing aircraft and helicopter swarmed on the property once they realised the family’s newly built house was threatened. The fire came within 20 metres of the house.

Over the rise, on Shaws Creek Rd, Anna and Luigi Cortese also lost 36 hectares on the property the couple only moved into last December.

Yesterday they were counting their blessings for the quick RFS response and a large dam on their property from which tankers could easily draw.

“They did a beautiful job,” Mrs Cortese said.

The RFS attended at least six more outbreaks on Monday evening in the Bungonia area, all started from lightning strikes.

Today they were also called to a grass fire on Braidwood Rd, 20km southeast of Goulburn, which burnt out two hectares of private property. The owner had been using a welder to build yards, Mr Alley said. Despite having water and fire fighting equipment on hand, the outbreak got away.

Gundary, Tarago and Mulwaree Support crews attended.    

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