With temperatures hitting 42 in the Goulburn Valley, the code red fire danger day brought high winds and catastrophic conditions.
While the odds may have been staked against them, CFA District 22 duty officer Pete Dedman confirmed crews in the Goulburn Valley were "extremely lucky" given the conditions.
“We had a small number of fires that we were able to get control of very early before they caused any significant damage,” he said.
“We also sent a strike team to Strathallan to support them (Thursday) afternoon and we had another strike team formed up to send to Hunter, just west of Elmore in District 2.”
Mr Dedman confirmed CFA crews attended six fires on Thursday including a tree and bin fire in Numurkah, a grass fire in Mooroopna, a tree fire in Mooroopna, a grass fire in Kaarimba, a grass fire in Byrneside and a backyard fire in Shepparton.
Crews from District 22 also assisted with two lightning strikes in the Strathbogie Ranges, on the south border of the district.
“Lightning strikes caused two small fires on the boundary with District 22 attending and handing over to Forest Fire Management Victoria,” Mr Dedman said.
He confirmed the cause of three of the local fires was currently under investigation.
“We sent investigators to Mooroopna, Numurkah and Byrnside and they're still under investigation,” Mr Dedman said.
While CFA crews were kept busy, they worked hard to ensure there was very little damage to the region, with only a number of trees and some fencing burnt during the blazes.
Mr Dedman thanked the community for their efforts in preparing their properties and taking steps to avoid any risky activities.
“Really like to thank the community for their actions in being prepared and not undertaking any risky activities that could have made things a whole lot worse,” he said.
“We had some really good work by the helicopter in Shepparton and some assistance from land owners ... it was really good work by everyone concerned to look after each other.”
A police spokesperson confirmed the investigation into the exact cause of the three fires remains ongoing however they are not believed to be suspicious at this stage.
16°C