Temperatures above 40C and strong erratic winds forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology, combined with the threat of the uncontained bushfire have forced ACT authorities to declare the territory-wide state of emergency.

ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) Commissioner Georgeina Whelan made the announcement shortly after the uncontained fire burning in the Namadgi National Park, was upgraded to a ‘watch and act’ alert.

“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.

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“This is as a consequence of the extreme bushfire and heatwave conditions that we may encounter,” Ms Whelan said.

‘We’ve been planning for our worst day’

The ESA has been monitoring the potential paths the fire may take in the next 72 hours, with the public able to access the predictive modelling maps from their website and social media pages.

There are two maps available; one focuses on the potential fire spread within the ACT over the coming days, while the other shows how the fire is likely to spread across the border into New South Wales.

Both state and territory emergency services are prepared for a jump across the border.

“We know that fires don’t respect borders and that is why our organisations are working together at a strategic level to plan a response”, Commissioner Whelan said.

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Despite the increased risk, the Commissioner reiterated authorities are prepared, “We've been planning for our worst day, and if we get there, we have the support we need in the ESA from our parks and conservation service, the Australian Defence Force, ACT policing, interstate firefighters, and the whole of ACT government.

State of Emergency

The ACT has been in a state of alert since January, however it has been 17 years since the last state of emergency was declared in the territory.

A state of emergency is declared if the Chief Minister believes an emergency has happened, is happening or is likely to happen and gives the emergency controller, in this case Commissioner Whelan, control over the region.

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ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said his decision to call the emergency wasn’t made lightly, but with BOM forecasting high temperatures and multiple changes in wind direction, he had no other choice.

"The combination of extreme heat, wind and a dry landscape will place suburbs at Canberra's south at risk in coming days," he said.

"The ACT is now facing the worst bushfire threat since the devastating fires of 2003”.

“It's more important than ever to stay informed and follow the directions of firefighters, police officers, SES and Defence Force staff. Help them help you,” he said.

2003 Canberra bushfires

Lightning strikes on 8 January in 2003 started four fires in NSW just outside the ACT in the Brindabella and Namadgi National Parks.

Over the next 10 days, the fires merged and began burning on the outskirts of the capital, but on 18 January the fires entered Canberra’s suburbs and within 10 hours killed four people, injured 490 others and destroyed or severely damaged 470 homes.

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Almost 70 per cent of the ACT’s pastures, pine plantations and nature parks were damaged by the out of control fires, which firefighters failed to contain amid extreme heat, dry conditions and strong winds.

The ACT Government established the McLeod Inquiry in the wake of the bushfires, an inquiry which now informs the territory’s emergency services practices.