For the first time since the 2003 bushfires a state of emergency has been declared for the ACT, as a fire in Namadgi National Park threatens rural communities south of Canberra.

Key points: The Orroral Valley fire in Namadgi National Park is burning at watch and act level

The Orroral Valley fire in Namadgi National Park is burning at watch and act level Properties are not currently under threat

Properties are not currently under threat The last time a state of emergency was issued for the ACT was during the 2003 bushfires





Following the announcement at midday, the Orroral Valley fire, which is burning out of control around the Mount Tennent area in the Namadgi National Park, was downgraded to watch and act level late on Friday night.

The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) said no properties were under threat.

Residents in the areas of Apollo Road, Boboyan Road, north of the Glendale depot, Top Naas Road, south of the Boboyan Road intersection and Corin Road were advised conditions were changing and could get worse.

"If you have left the area, do not return for your safety," the ESA said.

An evacuation centre was established at Erindale College, on McBryde Crescent, for those who have chosen to leave their homes.

Worst case scenario fire spread predictions show emergency services fear the fire may burn through residential areas. ( Supplied: NSW RFS and ACT ESA )

A number of spot fires have started in the Michelago area, over the border in New South Wales. That second fire is now known as the Clear Range fire and is burning at a watch and act level.

The Rural Fire Service has advised residents in Michelago to be aware of spot fires which could threaten property. People in The Angle and Royalla should continue to "monitor conditions and enact their bush fire survival plan".

Community members in Tharwa Village and people in Canberra's southernmost suburbs including Banks, Gordon and Conder have been told to "monitor conditions closely and be ready to act".

A map showing the potential spread of the fire in a worst case scenario was released on Friday afternoon, indicating the NSW town of Michelago could be in the direct line of the blaze on Saturday.

The dark red sections indicate the areas where the fire may spread and the dotted red areas show where embers may fall.

"Under these conditions, a number of fires will spread and may threaten properties. Embers may be blown ahead of fires and could start spot fires," the ESA said.

First state of emergency in 17 years

The Orroral Valley fire burning at emergency level south of Canberra. ( ABC News: Ian Cutmore )

The last time a state of emergency was declared in the ACT was during the 2003 bushfires, which killed four people and destroyed hundreds of homes.

As part of the state of emergency, ACT ESA Commissioner Georgeina Whelan has been appointed as the Emergency Controller.

"The fire activity is increasing, it has been unpredictable, it remains challenging, it is difficult to access," she said.

"This fire could create its own weather system.

"The predictions are that Saturday will be our worst day."

During a state of emergency, the Emergency Controller is given extra powers to help manage the declared emergency.

These extra powers include being able to direct or regulate the movement of people or animals, take control of a person's property, direct a person to give information, answer questions, or produce documents, or undertake necessary works on private property.

ACT Policing are also tasked with supporting the Emergency Controller and the ESA during a state of emergency, and will be authorised to move vehicles and prevent people from entering areas where there is imminent threat to safety.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 51 seconds 1 m 51 s ACT enters state of emergency as bushfire threat increases

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, who appointed Commissioner Whelan into the Emergency Controller role, said he did not take the decision to declare a state of emergency lightly.

"This is the highest elevation that's possible under the emergency act and … allows for a declaration ahead of time to deal with an impending emergency," he said.

"I've been very deliberate in determining to err on the side of caution.

"I understand the anxiety this announcement will cause, especially for those who lived through the 2003 bushfires.

"This is the first time a state of emergency has been declared since that tragic event."

Mr Barr said that one of "the many lessons" learned from the 2003 fires was "the need for early, clear, and effective communication with the community on the risks ahead, allowing people to plan and make decisions on whether they'll stay or when they will go".

The fire is burning in Namadgi National Park, as seen here from Mount Stromlo Observatory. ( Supplied: Markus Dirnberger )

Commissioner Whelan echoed Mr Barr's desire, and said the "checklist" of "the 10 things that contribute to having a really, really, really dangerous fire … are lining up".

"Over the next 72 hours, our community will be subject to possible road closures, evacuations, and any other action required to keep our community safe," she said.

"This is as consequence of the extreme bushfire and heatwave conditions that we may encounter.

"We are concerned the conditions in the ACT will be the worst we have seen since 2003. And, having learned from 2003, this is why we're having the discussion with you today."

Canberrans urged to 'remain vigilant'

Spot fires from the Orroral Valley fire burn near Little Burra, NSW. ( ABC News: Greg Nelson )

The fire, which started on January 27, has so far burnt over 21,000 hectares within the national park.

This morning Commissioner Whelan once again pleaded for voyeurs or those seeking to take photographs to stay away from fire zones.

"Say no to disaster tourism," she said.

"It is a danger to the people of the ACT and my staff who are working tirelessly to respond to this crisis.

"We ask that you look after each other and know what you will do if you are impacted.

"Keep tuning in. We are putting out as much information in as timely a manner as we can."

Residents of Tharwa attend a community meeting about the fire situation on Friday morning. ( ABC News: Greg Nelson )

Temperature soars amid total fire ban

The ACT has been in a state of alert for most of January, and is currently observing a total fire ban.

On Friday afternoon the temperature soared to 41C, and is expected to head for the same maximum on Saturday.

Extra crews have been brought to the ACT from interstate to assist local firefighters over the weekend.

There are also two large air tankers, three small seat aircraft and six rotary wing aircraft ready to battle the blaze.

Queensland reinforcements arriving at Namadgi National Park to assist local crews. ( ABC News: Greg Nelson )

"We are relying on air assets, however smoke is making it difficult," Commissioner Whelan said.

"At the moment the rate of spread is manageable in terms of warnings.

"What we are most concerned about is spot fires and the rate of spread."

ACT Emergency Services Agency website as an emergency bushfire rages in Namadgi National Park. January 31, 2020. ( ABC News )

Earlier on Friday the ESA website briefly suffered technical issues and was only showing an error message.

It is the second time the website has suffered a failure in the midst of an emergency bushfire — last week a tech fault on behalf of server host Amazon took the site offline as a fire raged south of Canberra Airport.

The advice for people in the event of such a failure is to follow the ESA and ABC Canberra on social media and listen in to ABC Radio Canberra (666AM) for information.