More than 20,000 homes in the capital are in the bushfire prone area, the ACT Emergency Services Agency says.

The bushfire season, which started on September 1, was brought forward a month amid increased risk of extreme weather.

Traditionally, the bushfire season commences on October 1 and runs through until March 31, unless conditions warrant a variation.

Emergency Services Agency commissioner Dominic Lane urged every Canberran to check if they were in high-risk areas.