AdvertisementOut-of-control bushfires have forced residents near Canberra to flee their homes as the first state of emergency in 17 years was declared in the nation's capital. The worsening 'erratic' conditions prompted the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) to release a series of urgent 'Leave Now' alerts to people in affected areas. The Orroral Valley fire spread from 18,000 hectares to 21,510 within hours on Friday afternoon and is now threatening homes in the capital's southern rural outskirts. The Orroral fire has been burning close to Canberra for much of the week and threatened homes. ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) Commissioner Georgeina Whelan said the fire activity is increasing and is now unpredictable.

Source: Daily Mail January 31, 2020 09:35 UTC