Wild bushfire spreading through Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park in Alice Springs

Ash is falling from the sky over Alice Springs as an ‘uncontrolled’ blaze spreads through Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park.

The Alice Springs bushfire has been active for almost two days.

Ash is falling from the sky in Alice Springs as a fire continues to burn through Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park, about 9km from the town centre.

Small spot fires can also be seen just metres from Larapinta Dr, near the turn off to Simpsons Gap.

Fire and emergency services were still redirecting traffic away from the area on Saturday afternoon.

The large bushfire started on Friday morning as a controlled fuel reduction burn off.

Fire authorities revealed they have yet to contain the fire.

Pete Hanton, Brigade Captain for Alice Springs Volunteer Bushfire Brigade, told The Advertiser how the fire had “got away” on Friday and continued to spread through the night.

“If you get a severe weather event in the middle of that operation, it can go in a different direction or it can jump a containment line and that’s what’s happened here. It’s got away from them,” he said.

The bushfire lit the Alice Springs sky orange on Friday night. Picture: Naomi Melick and Lilly Potger

Mr Hanton explained that he will be part of 10 volunteer firefighters joining 15 firefighters already on the ground to try to contain the bushfire during Saturday.

“And what we’re doing is we’re bringing it (the fire) towards the town to a certain track where we know we can grab it. So we’re drawing it in through the night. It’ll come in by about lunchtime,” he explained.

Ash is falling in Alice Springs as a fire continues to blaze in Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park. Picture: Laura Hooper.

The bushfire is currently moving into north and east of Simpsons Gap, and also extending east towards Alice Springs and north west into Hamilton Downs.

Bushfires NT warned the public to keep away from certain areas of the national park, which spreads across a staggering 206,900 hectares.

“In the interests of public safety Parks and Wildlife have closed: Section 1 and 2 of Larapinta Trail. The Woodland Trail. The Simpsons Gap Bike Path. The Hell Line Mountain Bike Trail,” Bushfires NT warned.

Originally published as Wild bushfire spreading through Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park in Alice Springs