The blaze destroyed 11 homes and damaged 12 more. The Rural Fire Service reported that 45 outbuildings were destroyed, with 40 more damaged.

About 200 firefighter fought the blaze, including crews from the Lake George zone assisted by crews from the Southern Tablelands and far south coast. 

At least 56 homes were saved, thanks to the efforts of firefighters.

The fire began as a grass fire about noon on Friday, February 17. 

At its peak, it spread at a rate of four kilometres per hour, crossing Captains Flat Road about 15 kilometres south of Queanbeyan.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire as conditions eased late on Friday evening. 

Crews are continuing to patrol the fire ground, with some trees still burning within the zone. 

A representative from the Queanbeyan Fire Control Centre asked residents to call triple zero (000) if they saw an unmonitored fire burning.

One resident described the aftermath of the fire as “like a war zone”.

Gerhard Fischer said he was one of the lucky ones. 

Flames licked the side of his home after he and his family had safely evacuated. The deck he'd finished building last week remained untouched, but the grass beside it was blackened.

"We got out with the horses, cats and dogs," Mr Fischer said.

"You think you're prepared, but you're not. You think it's not going to happen."

The cubby where his now adult children played as kids was burnt to the ground, but the chickens in the coop further down the yard had been saved. 

"It's a strange feeling. You see it on the news and think it could happen to you, but it won't, but when it does it's like a reality check.

“I feel fortunate. There's a lot of people up the road that are a lot worse off."

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council has an appeal for affected residents. Donations can be deposited into the Carwoola Bushfire Appeal Account, BSB: 032724, Account number 362257.

With additional reporting by Kimberly Le Lievre