Canberra total fire ban: High temperatures, dry winds create dangerous conditions

A total fire ban is in place and several reserves and national park access roads have been closed in preparation for a forecast high of 37 degrees, coupled with dry north-westerly winds of up to 40km/h.

There are fears the severe weather conditions could cause the Mount Clear bushfire to break containment lines.

The heat and wind threatens to make life difficult for firefighters trying to extinguish the five-day-old bushfire, about 14 kilometres west of the Monaro Highway.

The Bushfire Alert and Warning Level for this fire has been set at Advice.

There are 27 firefighters on site who are concentrating their efforts on the edge of the fire ground to ensure that strong winds do not cause any flare ups.

Ground crews are being supported by five water bombing aircraft.

Overnight, 30 firefighters extinguished a number of small hot spots within the burnt area during their patrols.

The fire is approximately 47 hectares in size and is under control.

ACT Rural Fire Service chief officer Andrew Stark said crews were in a "good position" to keep the fire contained on Sunday, but there was still the risk of a break-out thanks to the high winds.

"Remote fires that start by lightning are the most challenging fires, as Canberra knows from 2003, so it's great to see the success to this point," he said.

"People are very tired, it's very hard work, but morale is high, and people are quite buoyed by the results they achieved considering the scale of the fire."

The fire danger rating is expected to be upgraded from "very high" to "severe" on Sunday, with fire crews from all ACT services on standby.

Gas barbecues will be switched off at all Canberra urban parks and the National Arboretum while Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Googong Foreshores, Kowen Forest, Lower Molonglo River Corridor, Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve and Mulligans Flat Woodlands Sanctuary have closed.

Certain roads within Namadgi National Park including Apollo Road, Orroral Road, Old Mill Road, Warks Road, Mount Franklin Road and the Corin Dam Road, will also close.

Mr Stark said although the Mount Clear fire would probably remain under control, other blazes could start very easily.

"If bushfires break out, they have the potential to threaten life and property very quickly," he said.

"People need to be aware of that if they take advantage of recreational areas that will be open."

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Rob Taggart said pressure differences between a high over the Tasman Sea and a trough in South Australia would push the high winds across western NSW overnight.

"That will draw some very hot, dry air from parts of central Australia straight over the ACT," he said.

"It's not really heatwave conditions over Canberra, because it's not consistent over three or four days, but it is producing those dangerous fire conditions."

The total fire ban will run until at least midnight on Monday, with a cool change expected to lower the risk and danger rating.

Closed on Sunday

Open on Sunday