FIREFIGHTERS breathed a huge sigh of relief yesterday as the predicted surge in temperature combined with the arrival of strong north westerly winds failed to materialise saving hundreds of Southern Highland homes from the threat of fire.

Around 400 homeowners living in Hill Top, Buxton and Balmoral were on red alert to evacuate their properties in case the raging bushfire rampaging through Nattai National Park - which has already destroyed 13 homes in Thirlmere - started to head towards their villages.

Much to their relief, anxious residents were instead blessed with a gentle southerly wind allowing the fire to burn back on itself while giving overworked firefighters some vital breathing space to extend control zones.

But last night, 200 firefighters on duty - including a number of crews from Victoria - were not allowing themselves to become complacent knowing a further change in the wind shift could once again threaten properties.

Strike Team Leader Terry Hanley, from Victorian CFO Region 10, said it was not an exaggeration to say that the change in weather conditions saved possibly hundreds of residents from the need to evacuate.

He said: “The initial forecast for Sunday morning was quite serious with temperature highs in the late 30s combined with strong north westerly winds.

“Thankfully, that hasn’t proved to be the case and things have worked out in our favour.

“The temperature was not as high as expected and the change in the wind has given us time to extend our back burning operations.

“The pressure has been very much relieved”.

The front of the massive bush fire tearing through the national park is estimated to be 26 kilometres wide and is travelling on average at around three kilometres per day.

It has already burnt through 21,500 hectares (50 per cent) of the national park and is believed to have been started by a lightning strike a fortnight ago.

The fire is so large it can even generate its own weather conditions and is quite capable of going against the prevalent weather conditions at the time, further heightening firefighters’ concerns.