|
Date January 1939 |
Temp (degrees F) |
|---|---|
| Tue. 3 | 96.8º |
| Wed. 4 | 96.0º |
| Thurs. 5 | 97.8º |
| Fri. 6 | 97.2º |
| Sat. 7 | 101.7º |
| Sun. 8 | 102.8º |
| Mon. 9 | 102.6º |
| Tue. 10 | 106.4º |
| Wed. 11 | 108.5º |
| Thurs. 12 | 103.6º |
| Fri. 13 | 107.4º |
| Sat. 14 | 106.4º |
from The Canberra Times
The initial fire had started in the hills about 40 miles directly behind Uriarra Station (beyond the Goodradigbee River) and had been burning since Tuesday. Late Friday night (January 13) the fires reached the A.C.T. in three main tongues: one near Mt Franklin, one at Two Sticks Road (near Mount Coree) and the third near Horseshoe Bend along the northern boundary of the A.C.T.
By early morning Saturday 14 January, strong winds gusting up to 70 kilometers per hour started numerous spot fires in the region (maximum spotting distance was 24 kilometers).
By Saturday afternoon the fires had raged over a total front of 45 miles along the Murrumbidgee River, and had crossed it at several places.
The Two Sticks Road fire burnt across the Uriarra Pine Plantation, completely destroying it, and was halted along the Murrumbidgee River. Around noon on Saturday a burning ember from the Uriarra Fire started a spot fire at Huntley (about 6 miles away), this fire swept towards Mt Stromlo but was quickly halted about 2 miles away from Mount Stromlo.
The Horseshoe Bend fire spotted across the Murrumbidgee River at the Kurrajong Waterhole. The fire was confined to the north side of the Hall-Kurrajong Road, it then passed through 'Glenwood' Station, and spread into sparsely timbered country on a 5 mile front. It was halted north of Hall.
The Mount Franklin fire burnt right across the Territory. There were serious outbreaks at Tidbinbilla, Cuppacumbalong, Booroomba and Lanyon. Later as it entered New South Wales their were outbreaks around Royalla.
A cool change accompanied by rain moved across the Canberra region on Sunday 15 January, extinguishing most fire fronts.
Fortunately no lives were lost, and stock losses were comparatively small, the main losses were to property. 150,000 acres of timbered and grazing land burnt out (including 1100 hectares of pine plantation worth 300,000 pounds) and nearly 40 miles of fencing, particularly in the Tidbinbilla and Uriarra area, were destroyed.
Sourced from:
'Bushfires in Australia' by R. H. Luke & A. G.
McArthur
'The Canberra Times' January 1939
A.C.T. Bushfire Council Annual Reports