Bushfires near Canberra

Emergency bushfire cuts off 
rural communities from 
Canberra | ABC News





The Orroral Valley bushfire in the Namadgi National Park has burned more than one-seventh of the ACT but has so far been kept away from Canberra suburbs. 

The out-of-control fire, which a military helicopter accidentally ignited this week, is burning at an emergency level. 

The blaze continues to intensify and is expected to worsen in this afternoon's hot, windy conditions. 

There is currently no threat to the southern suburbs of the ACT, but authorities have urged people in the township of Tharwa and the southernmost suburbs of Banks, Gordon and Conder to monitor conditions. 

Meanwhile, New South Wales firefighters are battling the fast-moving, emergency-level Clear Range fire south of the border, which flared up when embers from the ACT blaze spread. 

The Clear Range fire is threatening properties in Michelago, Colinton and Bredbo. Residents have been told it is too late to leave and to seek shelter. 

Reporter Phil Williams has more from Colinton, south of Michelago, near that fire front. 


Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-0...

Temperatures above 40 deg C, (104 deg F) and strong winds are causing the worst bushfire in 20 years south of Australia's capital Canberra: Authorities have declared a state of emergency

The Orroral Valley fire as seen just outside Tharwa on Boboyan Road on Friday. 

Picture: Dion Georgopoulos 

http://www.thebigwobble.org/2020/01/temperatures-above-40-deg-c-104-deg-f.html

We began January 2020 with an Australian wildfire crisis and we are going to end the month 

with another one. Authorities of the Australian Capital Territory, (ATC) have declared a state of 

emergency as the worst bushfire in 20 years is devastating areas south of the nation's capital 

Canberra.

 The main blaze, in the territory's south, is burning over more than 18,500 hectares. Residents 

in suburbs of Canberra have been urged to "remain alert" for potential evacuations. "The ACT 

is now facing the worst bushfire threat since the devastating fires of 2003," Chief Minister 

Andrew Barr told reporters on Friday. "There's now no higher priority for the ACT government 

at this time than the bushfire threat." Mr Barr warned the fires "may become uncontrollable" as 

temperatures climbed to 40C and were fuelled by strong winds. He said the worst blaze was 

just south of the district of Tuggeranong, a 20-minute drive south of Parliament House in 

Canberra. BBC

  
Elevated fire conditions in the ACT set to accumulate on Saturday afternoon... 

The warm and windy conditions forecast for the ACT and NSW surrounds on Saturday are set 

to accumulate in the afternoon. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe fire weather 

warning for the ACT on Saturday. Strong wind gusts of up to 45km/h are set to hit elevated 

areas on the fireground and winds are set to pick up across the ACT late morning, BOM 

meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse said. But winds on the fireground were forecast to persist 

overnight on Friday. "In Canberra city itself we will see winds increasing from about 10 or 11am in the morning," Ms Woodhouse said. "But through the higher parts, it may remain a bit windy overnight and become windier slightly 

earlier than Canberra city itself." Northwesterly winds in the afternoon, along with hot 

temperatures will be when the fire danger is at its highest. Canberra Times