The blaze, which burnt through 3387 hectares near Tarago over two days from January 17, started from a bird strike on Capital Wind Farm high voltage power lines, a Rural Fire Service investigation found. The bird caught fire, dropped to the ground and set off the blaze near Taylors Creek Road.

Brendan Pendergast, principal of Warnambool-based Maddens Lawyers, attended Monday night’s meeting between State agencies, fire affected people and the community at Tarago.

He told The Post his firm had been involved in several “successful” cases involving fires and electrical infrastructure, including the Blue Mountains blaze several years ago. All of these had been settled before a verdict was handed down.

“I’ve been contacted by five to 10 people affected by the Currandooley fire who are interested in a class action,” he said.

“Based on information from them we are making further inquiries into the circumstances of the fire’s start and seeing if the facts give rise to a class action.”

He plans to host a meeting at Tarago soon to gauge interest. Infigen Energy has rejected any suggestion the wind farm infrastructure was to blame.

Meantime, Monaro police Inspector Michael Handley told the meeting that a brief was being prepared for the State Coroner but the process could be lengthy. He encouraged those who lost property or stock to provide statements to police to form part of the documentation. The brief will also include the RFS investigation. It would then be up to the Coroner’s office to decide whether to hold an inquiry into the the “manner and cause of the fire.”

Rob Wilson was one of the first firefighters at the scene. He and brother Ian own ‘Nardoo,’ adjoining Currandooley where the fire started. The Wilsons lost 100 acres on the 2200-acre sheep property.

“A fellow in the wind tower saw it start and alerted us,” he said.

“We (the Taylors Creek RFS brigade) were there within 15 to 20 minutes.”

Mr Wilson verified that it started from a wind farm line running from the Pylara property to a substation. Like other firefighters, he told The Post he saw a burnt bird beneath the line. 

Agencies at the meeting provided advice on rural, financial and emotional help for landholders. But some attendees also used the opportunity to air their concerns.

John Haridemos, ‘Kildare,’ lost 500 acres on both sides of the Tarago to Bungendore Road at his Mount Fairy sheep property during the fire.

He said a heavy hail storm some three years ago “filled” the road verge with debris which “had never been cleared.” 

“I still believe we would have lost land but that’s where it jumped the road,” he said.

“If there’s one thing we can learn it’s that the road can be used as a natural fire break and can limit the damage.”

Mr Haridemos said he’d spoken to Palerang Council about the matter but it was proving to be a stumbling block when it came to fencing. BlazeAid was repairing fences in the area but could not remove trees in the way because they fall under council control.