The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ACT ESA) has urged residents in Canberra’s southern suburbs to be prepared and monitor conditions as a 10,000 -hectare bushfire continues to burn in the Orroral Valley.
The ACT ESA downgraded the fire from “Out of Control” to “Watch and Act” alert level yesterday (29 January).
ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr said the fires were the most serious Canberra had faced since the deadly 2003 bushfires.
“We know the next few days are going to be uncomfortable, with extreme heat and smoke haze from the fire continuing to impact across the Territory,” Mr Barr said.
On Tuesday, ACT ESA Commissioner, Georgeina Whelan said the blaze was moving at a rate of 400 hectares per hour, with Tharwa village residents told it was too late to leave.
Police and emergency services staff doorknocked the southern suburbs of Banks, Gordon and Condor on Tuesday night to alert residents to the possible threat.
While the alert level has been lowered, Commissioner Whelan said the threat remained.
“There is an active fire, and community members in Tharwa Village, Boboyan Road, Apollo Road and Top Naas Road need to remain vigilant,” Commissioner Whelan said.
“People in Banks, Gordon, Conder, Calwell and Theodore should continue to monitor conditions and stay up to date.”
She said an upcoming heatwave that is set to bring temperatures of over 40 degrees to the ACT would make it even more difficult to control the blaze in the coming days.
“We should expect more difficult weather in the coming days to challenge fire conditions,” Commissioner Whelan said.
The fire is believed to have been started by an Australian Defence Force helicopter assisting in the fire response, with a landing light igniting grass.
“The helicopter and crew were conducting aerial reconnaissance and ground clearance to enable access for emergency services personnel who were conducting bushfire prevention measures in the ACT,” ADF said.
“It is deeply regrettable that our support operations have likely started this fire.”
The ACT ESA has urged ACT residents to prepare a Bushfire Survival Plan and be ready to follow it.
ESA updates on the fire can be accessed via this PS News link.
