Happy Monday Canberrans. It's another week, and we're fast getting into the tail end of February. If you missed the weekend's Multicultural Festival, we'll fill you in further on. After horrendous heat this month, you'll be relieved to know a day of sunny weather with a top of 23 degrees is forecast, expected to rise to 28 tomorrow. The fire danger rating for today is high.
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Here are some of the stories making headlines today.
Tough talk
Defence Department boss Dennis Richardson has bared his teeth to more than 2000 of his workers, saying he will be a "mongrel" if his executives do not trim the numbers of public servants working there.
Mr Richardson is frustrated that even after his deep cuts to public service numbers in his department, there were up to 18,000 service providers, consultants and contractors on the books.
Using language not normally heard from Canberra's public service mandarins, he does not care if he makes himself unpopular while he manages the numbers.
Noel Towell has the story.
House lost in Bungendore fire
Thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon may have brought relief for crews who have been battling the fast-moving grass fire at Carwoola since Friday. But firefighters were again called to a fire threatening homes off Tarago Road, Bungendore on Sunday. Waterbombing aircraft helped to contain the grass fire burning near Lake George on Sunday.
Along with ground crews, they quickly brought the fire under control, after it had burnt out 17.5 hectares and destroyed a house and a car.
Firefighters also patrolled the devastating blaze south-east of Queanbeyan.
Katie Burgess reports.
'We missed a bullet'
An amazing story in the aftermath of the Carwoola fire - retired rear admiral Ken Doolan helped to save his house from the blaze by arming himself with a sprinkler, and protecting himself with a soggy towel around his head.
He recounted his story on Sunday, after fire spared his home but consumed his shed.
More than 50 people came through the evacuation centre set up at the Q Threatre in Queanbeyan on Friday. Meanwhile, an appeal has been launched to help those affected by the fires, as the Carwoola community looks to life after the fire.
Read Katie Burgess' story here.
Canberra's multicultural heart
Combining Scottish beer, Thai food, performances of La Bamba, and people from countries as far as Venezuela, Canberra's multicultural festival on Sunday put the city's diversity on show.
Crowds packed out Civic, lining up at food stalls and watching performances on several stages as the festival entered its final day.
Attendance figures haven't been calculated, but ACT Community Services Directorate executive director Maureen Sheehan said organisers believed the crowd held well, even despite rain on Saturday.
I joined in the festivities.
Investigation stalled
Now to an investigation into the explosion at the Australian Christian Lobby headquarters in Canberra. It's been nearly two months since the event, but police say their investigation is frozen due to the 35-year-old Canberra driver's health. To date, no charges have been laid.
Australian Christian Lobby managing director Lyle Shelton said that while police had been talking to him, he was frustrated they had not answered his questions.
Mr Shelton has detailed threats the office received in the months leading up to December 21, including emails consisting of graphic same-sex pornography and a string of menacing phone calls and death threats.
Clare Sibthorpe with this report.
