At least 25 hectares of bushland and green grass was destroyed by yesterday's bushfire as it swept behind the Golf Club, the Speedway Track and into the Showgrounds.
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It took more than eight hours for 15 firefighters and a a team of volunteers to battle the flames, as they worked late into the night.
"All possible resources were called in," Station Officer Bernie Welsford said.
"Without the Volunteer Bushfire Brigade we would not have been able to contain it."
It was very hard to control
- Station Officer Bernie Welsford
While no buildings were lost, the fire came dangerously close to burning through the Golf Club's fence line.
The Katherine race track also fell victim to the sweeping fire.
"It was very hard to control," Mr Welsford said.
"The conditions were blustery, pushing the fire spread towards the Golf Club. It went into the showgrounds and spread rapidly across the race tracks.
"All fires are serious, but 25 hectares in an area where you have assets and 20-30kmh winds is dangerous."
Plus the temperature was over 40 degrees at the time.
Bushfires NT and the Volunteer Bushfire Brigade were quickly called in to assist the under-resourced Katherine Firefighters.
The Golf Club ground staff could be seen swatting at flames and embers with branches and dousing dead and flammable grass with water.
How it ignited will likely remain a mystery.
But an illegal, large pile of dead logs and trees left at the Katherine Showgrounds made controlling the fire almost impossible.
This latest incident was part of an already busy week for Katherine's firefighters who had spent the preceding days battling fires across Katherine, most of which were deliberately lit.
In the past week, fires ripped through bushland behind the Katherine Hospital, threatening homes on the other side of the Katherine River.
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Crews were kept occupied for hours after a clean-away truck on Gorge Road was ignited.
Fires in inaccessible places along the river threatened more homes and another started beside the Stuart Highway and encroached on the Katherine Aquatic Centre.
Mr Welsford said yesterday's event is a good reminder for people to ensure firebreaks and action plans are in place.
Authorities are warning residents to be prepared for more fires as record-breaking temperatures set in.
"If you see anyone who is playing with matches or looking suspicious call 000," Mr Welsford said.
"It only takes one little ember with these wind conditions to destroy thousands of hectares."
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