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Firefighters battle ‘erratic’ Orroral Valley fire on ACT’s ‘worst day’

An out-of-control blaze burning rapidly near Canberra has now consumed 22 per cent of the ACT, as firefighters battle horror conditions.

4 min read
February 1, 2020 - 11:24PM
Aerial footage shows scale of out-of-control blaze in ACT

An out-of-control blaze in the Orroral Valley in the Namadgi National Park has now burned through more than one fifth of the ACT, as firefighters work to keep the front away from Canberra and nearby rural communities.

Conditions are being compared to those experienced in 2003, when four people died and hundreds of Canberra homes were razed.

The Orroral Valley fire was raised to emergency level on Saturday after being downgraded to “watch and act” late on Friday, before again being downgraded just before 5pm.

Earlier, ACT Emergency Services Agency Commissioner Georgeina Whelan said the fire was generating its own weather pattern and had reached within two kilometres of Tharwa at 3pm.

“The fire may pose a threat to lives directly in its path,” she told reporters in Canberra on Saturday. “Driving is extremely dangerous and potentially deadly.”

She said communities in the area are in danger and need to seek shelter immediately to survive.

Fire spotting is up to 10km ahead of the main fire to the southeast of the ACT border.

Temperatures in the nation’s capital topped 40C for a second consecutive day with unpredictable wind changes forecast.

“The fire has created its own weather system this afternoon,” the commissioner said.

“This will increase its intensity over the next few hours.”

Insane footage shows the extent of the damage caused by the Orroral Valley blaze. Picture: Twitter/RFS
Insane footage shows the extent of the damage caused by the Orroral Valley blaze. Picture: Twitter/RFS

The Monaro Highway has been closed after the NSW Rural Fire Service declared an emergency warning for the bushfire burning near Bredbo.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr reminded Canberrans, especially in the southern Tuggeranong area, to remain vigilant.

“The fire is growing and it may become unpredictable,” he told reporters.

Earlier, Mr Barr said the state of emergency in the territory is expected to remain until at least Monday. He again urged people to stay away from the area, saying visitors are just “getting in the way”.

“It is incredible disappointing that a number of people had to be told to leave the area last night by ACT police,” he said.

Emergency services were doorknocking in the ACT’s western suburbs earlier in the day as a precautionary measure.

“We have a number of containment lines in place, however if they are breached the fire could continue up to the west of the ACT suburban borders,” the commissioner said at a midmorning press conference.

Wind changes could also see the whole of the ACT enveloped in smoke, similar to what happened after Christmas, from fires burning nearby in NSW.

The Orroral Valley bushfire has burned some 52,234 hectares hectares so far, or 22 per cent of the ACT. The Bureau of Meteorology’s Dean Sgarbossa says the 40C heat along with gusty winds and dry conditions “will drive fire dangers into the severe area”.

However, he told ABC news humidity will increase throughout the day, which will cap fire dangers heading into Sunday.

A fire is burning on the suburban fringe of Canberra. Picture: Getty Images/Brook Mitchell
A fire is burning on the suburban fringe of Canberra. Picture: Getty Images/Brook Mitchell
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr declared a State of Emergency on Friday. Picture: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr declared a State of Emergency on Friday. Picture: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

South of the border, NSW firefighters are battling the fast-moving Clear Range fire, which was sparked by embers from the Orroral Valley blaze.

Emergency warnings are now in place for two fires in southeast NSW, with homes under threat and a key highway closed.

People in Michelago and Bredbo, near border, have been warned properties are under threat, which has also led to the closure of the Monaro Highway.

It comes after a state of emergency was declared across the ACT on Friday as the fire tore through the Namadgi National Park.

People in the vicinity of Apollo Road, Boboyan Road, Top Naas Road and Corin Road have been warned to stay vigilant.

“Today is the day of greatest concern,” Mr Barr told the Nine Network on Saturday.

“But it is forecast to be still quite hot tomorrow (Sunday) and we are expecting some storms that could lead to quite unpredictable weather, wind changes.”

Mr Barr said the state of emergency is expected to remain until at least Monday. He said the ACT’s rural village of Tharwa in the extreme south of the territory remains of particular focus.

He said there has been a “tremendous preparing effort” to protect both heritage and properties in the area.

But he warned the “the winds are up, so the fire is awake.” He said the winds are coming from the north west so the fire is going to track towards NSW.

BLISTERING TEMPERATURES

Canberra was forecast to reach a maximum 41C today, with storms and a top of 35C predicted for Sunday.

Evacuations and road closures are possible as the fire edges closer to Canberra.

“What are the 10 things contributing to having a really, really dangerous fire? They are lining up,” Ms Whelan said.

Heat, the fire index rating, the territory’s topography and fuel loads are among the leading causes of concern.

“It has been unpredictable. It remains challenging. It is difficult to access. This fire could create its own weather system,” Ms Whelan said.

“If all of what I have just outlined occurs, there is a chance this fire could break containment lines.”

An aerial view of bushfires burning south of Canberra. Picture: Supplied
An aerial view of bushfires burning south of Canberra. Picture: Supplied
Police on Boboyan Road, south of Tharwa, ACT, as the Orroral fire in the Namadgi National Park escalates. Picture: Sean Davey
Police on Boboyan Road, south of Tharwa, ACT, as the Orroral fire in the Namadgi National Park escalates. Picture: Sean Davey

“The fire activity is increasing, it has been unpredictable, it remains challenging, it is difficult to access. The predictions are that Saturday will be our worst day,” she said.

Smoke is making it difficult for aircraft to fly over certain areas of the fire ground.

Mr Barr said the emergency declaration was made to allow Canberrans, especially those south of Tuggeranong, time to prepare for the weekend.

“The state of emergency is the strongest signal we can send to the ACT community that they must prepare themselves and their families,” he said.

Meanwhile, NSW firefighters are also battling tough conditions on Saturday, with temperatures set to soar past 40 degrees celsius in parts of the state. Strong winds are forecast to fuel the danger, particularly on existing fire grounds along the south coast.

The Rural Fire Service has declared total fire bans for the southern slopes, the southern ranges, the far south coast, the Monaro alpine and the Illawarra/Shoalhaven regions.

– With wires

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/news/firefighters-prepared-for-erratic-orroral-valley-fire-to-jump-containment-lines/news-story/b5cc0cb124549af1bd95d9cad4a2dd2b