This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/28/canberra-bushfire-at-watch-and-act-level-as-heatwave-bears-down-on-capital
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Canberra bushfire at watch and act level as heatwave bears down on capital | Canberra bushfire at watch and act level as heatwave bears down on capital |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Residents in Tharwa and Banks told they could be affected as firefighters continue to battle fires | Residents in Tharwa and Banks told they could be affected as firefighters continue to battle fires |
| A bushfire burning across more than 2,500-hectares in Canberra’s Namadgi national park was at watch and act level early on Tuesday, with people nearby told to consult their bushfire plans. | |
| Emergency services said the fire was about 9km south west of Tharwa village and 15km from Banks. | |
| Residents in those areas were warned they could be affected by the fire. | Residents in those areas were warned they could be affected by the fire. |
| Emergency services battled the fire overnight, with 19 firefighting units, six helicopters and a large air tanker battling the out-of-control fire in Orroral Valley. | Emergency services battled the fire overnight, with 19 firefighting units, six helicopters and a large air tanker battling the out-of-control fire in Orroral Valley. |
| There were also fears for the site – now only concrete remains – of the former Honeysuckle Creek tracking station, which in July 1969 captured the footage of the first moon landing. | There were also fears for the site – now only concrete remains – of the former Honeysuckle Creek tracking station, which in July 1969 captured the footage of the first moon landing. |
| Landholders and residents were told to activate their bushfire plans, with the Exhibition Park showground in Canberra being opened for horses. | Landholders and residents were told to activate their bushfire plans, with the Exhibition Park showground in Canberra being opened for horses. |
| Firefighters were expecting a challenging seven to 10 days, as a heatwave bore down on the nation’s capital. | Firefighters were expecting a challenging seven to 10 days, as a heatwave bore down on the nation’s capital. |
| Authorities warned the situation could get worse with hot and slightly windy conditions fanning the blaze. | Authorities warned the situation could get worse with hot and slightly windy conditions fanning the blaze. |
| Spot fires broke out 5km east from the main fire as the larger blaze headed south-east. | Spot fires broke out 5km east from the main fire as the larger blaze headed south-east. |
| Canberrans woke to smoke haze on Tuesday morning after it reached the capital late on Monday night. | Canberrans woke to smoke haze on Tuesday morning after it reached the capital late on Monday night. |
| Defence and State Emergency Services personnel were doorknocking areas near the fire to warn residents. | Defence and State Emergency Services personnel were doorknocking areas near the fire to warn residents. |
| The ACT Emergency Services Agency declared a total fire ban until midnight on Friday. | The ACT Emergency Services Agency declared a total fire ban until midnight on Friday. |
| Georgeina Whelan, the ACT Emergency Services Agency commissioner, said on Monday evening the territory would face a “tough seven to 10 days” due to a “challenging” weather forecast. | |
| The mercury is tipped to hit 35C on Tuesday, with winds becoming westerly 20km/h to 30km/h in the morning and shifting to south-easterly later in the day. | The mercury is tipped to hit 35C on Tuesday, with winds becoming westerly 20km/h to 30km/h in the morning and shifting to south-easterly later in the day. |
| On Tuesday the NSW Rural Fire Service said a further 25 homes had been lost to bushfires in the state, taking the total number of losses this season to almost 2,400. | |
| Assessments carried out since Friday revealed the losses, but showed almost 300 homes had been saved in the most recent blazes. | |
| Fire danger was very high in the central and southeast regions of NSW on Tuesday, with the southern ranges under a total fire ban. | |
| “Worsening conditions are forecast for later in the week so prepare now,” the fire service said on Twitter. |