TOTAL FIRE BAN declared in the ACT - 15 January 2019

ACT Emergency Services Agency Commissioner Dominic Lane has declared a Total Fire Ban for the whole of the ACT under Section 114 of the Emergencies Act 2004 from: 8:30am Tuesday, 15 January 2019 to 11:59 Tuesday, 15 January 2019. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting dry conditions today with a predicted temperature of 39 degrees. The Forecast Fire Danger Rating (FDR) for today is VERY HIGH. Fires burning in VERY HIGH conditions can be difficult to control. Flames may be higher than rooftops. Expect embers to be blown around. Spot fires may occur up to 4 km ahead of the main fire. There is a chance people in the path of a fire may be injured or die. Some homes and businesses may be destroyed. Leaving early is the safest option for your survival. Well prepared and actively defended houses can offer safety during a fire. The ESA advises you to make sure you know where you will get more information and monitor the situation for any changes. You can do this through local ACT media outlets, the ESA website www.esa.act.gov.au, the ESA Twitter and Facebook accounts or by calling Access Canberra on 13 22 81. The following nature reserves and roads will be closed for the duration of the Total Fire Ban: Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, selected roads within Namadgi National Park including Apollo Road, Orroral Road, Old Mill Road, Warks Road, Mount Franklin Road and the Corin Dam Road, Googong Foreshores, Kowen Forest, Lower Molonglo River Corridor, Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve, Mulligans Flat Woodlands Sanctuary and the Centenary Trail between Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve and Hall. The Boboyan Road and Brindabella Road remain open to through traffic. The Tidbinbilla and Namadgi Visitors Centres will remain open. Swimming areas at the Cotter and along the Murrumbidgee River such as Kambah Pool, Pine Island Point Hut and Uriarra Crossing will remain open. Electric BBQs in Parks and Reserves including the National Arboretum Canberra and in Canberra's urban parks will be available, however all gas barbeques will be turned off. There are also restrictions on lighting fires or undertaking high risk activities, such as welding or grinding, which may cause a fire to ignite. www.esa.act.gov.au/community-information/bushfires/total-fire-bans provides full details of these restrictions. If a fire starts, the ESA advises you monitor the situation for any changes through the ACT Emergency Services Agency website www.esa.act.gov.au, the ESA Twitter and Facebook accounts, local ACT media outlets or by calling Access Canberra on 13 22 81. To find out more about Total Fire Bans log on to the ACT Emergency Services Agency website www.esa.act.gov.au or call Access Canberra on 13 22 81.