A state of emergency has been declared for Canberra for the first time since 2003 as the ACT faces its biggest bushfire threat in 17 years. An extreme heatwave is sweeping across Australia on Friday, with high temperatures and dry winds expected to spark more bushfires over the weekend. A state of emergency was declared for the ACT on Friday as the Orroral Valley Fire, which is burning in the Namadgi National Park, was upgraded to watch and act. ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) Commissioner Georgeina Whelan said the fire activity is increasing and is now unpredictable, ABC reported. Conditions across New South Wales are also expected to deteriorate, with the Orroral fire expected to cross the NSW border on Friday afternoon.

Source: Daily Mail January 31, 2020 01:31 UTC