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The Latham community have thanked firefighters for saving them from a close call extinguishing a fire that was burning perilously close to homes on Monday evening. Eleven units and two helicopters helped to put out the fire at Umbagong Park, which came within 50 metres of homes and created significant smoke in the area. Emergency Service Crews had earlier warned the fire was burning in an easterly direction toward Dalley Crescent, Inglis Place, Mcfarlan Place and Moorehead Place. MacFarlane Street resident Keiran Guise said seeing the plumes of black smoke so close he told his wife to take their two month old son to family outside the suburb. He and mate Ryan Phillips ran down to the fire ground and with help from a neighbour "ran buckets down" to put out spot fires. Watching the crews mop up the blackened park Nick Hart, who also ran down to help with his garden shovel in hand, said he was relieved to see the fire stamped out so quickly. "They've just knocked this on the head in monumental speed," he said. "It's good because had it jumped the creek we would have all been down here trying to stop it before it burnt all the way to Kippax." No property was damaged and no injuries were reported by Rural Fire Service ACT will investigate the source of the fire which ignited while a total fire ban was in place across Canberra. As the fire danger rating on the hot and windy afternoon was set to Very High, the agency warned residents that the fire would be difficult to control and may burn into the tree tops. "There is a chance people may die or be injured. Some homes and businesses may be damaged or destroyed," the spokesman said. It warned embers may be blown ahead of the fire and spot fires could occur up to 2 km ahead of the fire. "Your home will only offer safety if it and you are well prepared and you can actively defend it during a fire," the agency warned. "Leaving is the safest option for your survival. You should relocate to the location identified in your Bushfire Survival Plan." The hot and dry condition have not gone unnoticed by Bureau of Meteorology forecasters who said after 21 days with temperatures above 30 degrees, the first month of 2017 was likely to be one for the record books. "We are on track to have the warmest mean temperature for January on record," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jordan Notara said. January 2016 brought 106.4mm of rainfall to the capital whereas so far this January there has been just 8.4mm of rain. The mean monthly temperature for January from 1932-2016 was 32.3 degrees. And on Monday January 30th as the daily high climbed toward 39 degrees, Mr Notara said the monthly mean temperature was already 32.6 degrees and could increase with more hot temperatures forecast. While average temperatures were up, Mr Notara said peak temperatures had not come close to the 41.6 degree all-time high recorded on January 18, 2013 Climate outlooks released by the bureau indicate hot and dry conditions are set to continue into February for Canberra and south eastern regions of NSW.

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