The fire had on Saturday afternoon burnt 202 hectares and was seven kilometres from Canberra's south-west fringe, but posed no threat to property or life.

A large amount of the fire activity on Saturday was in the north west, where backburning operations had contributed to the size of the fire.

ACT Emergency Services Agency commissioner Dominic Lane said he was confident the fire would be brought under control on Saturday after favourable conditions overnight helped firefighters strengthen containment lines.

In addition to water bombing the area, firefighters are using bulldozers and heavy plant machinery to further strengthen containment lines, and backburning "as a minor tactic" where it is safe to do so.

"We've had the fortune of the storm that hit Canberra," Mr Lane told a media contingent on Saturday morning.

"Whilst that brought significant damage with I think 150 calls to the SES to assist our residents of the ACT, it did help our firefighters.

"It allowed for milder conditions overnight and allowed firefighters to more safety get in and start establishing containment lines.

"They've done that by using bulldozers... and today that's supported by helicopters actually waterbombing the fire edge to help bring this fire under control."

Firefighters worked overnight backburning in the area to control the fire, which remains at alert advice level.

Shortly after 11am on Saturday, Mr Lane said while the fire had "appeased for the moment", it still posed a risk and could continue to grow if not brought under control in the next 24-48 hours.

"Theres still a lot of work to do," he said.

"This is very steep and inaccessible terrain, and while we still have significant active fire on some of those edges, we cant get in there as close as wed like just yet."

An ACT Emergency Services Agency spokesperson said there had been no evacuations and there was "no immediate danger to the community".

On Friday, more than 1440 homes were door knocked in suburbs from Kambah to Gordon. They were reminded to be prepared for the upcoming bushfire season.

Ten crews remained on the firefront overnight Friday to put in containment lines and attempt to bring the fire under control.

Westerly winds were expected to reach 26km/h in the area and blow smoke over the ACT on Saturday.

The fire danger rating remains very high in the ACT. Kambah Pool, Camp Cottermouth, Bullen Range Nature Reserve and Pierces Creek forrest remain closed.

Kambah Pool Road from Kambah Pool to Mount Vernon Drive is closed.

Paddy's River Road has been reopened. The Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve remained closed on Saturday afternoon but was expected to reopen on Sunday.

Firefighters on Saturday morning investigated reports of a second fire south east of the main firefront, but determined it to be smoke from the Pierces Creek blaze. An Emergency Services Agency spokeswoman said helicopters would continue to monitor the area.

The Health Directorate has advised people with asthma, other chronic respiratory or chronic cardiac diseases to not perform vigorous exercise.

"People with asthma in particular should continue their medication and consult their general practitioner if they have any difficulties," they said.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Lane said that, due to the extremely dry conditions, firefighters were facing conditions similar to the 2003 firestorm when four people died and close to 500 homes were destroyed. He feared people had become complacent in the nearly 16 years since the firestorm, but now was the time to act.

"This is a strong reminder to our community, to the ACT citizens nows the time to get ready," he said.

"Download your bushfire survival plan from the ESA website, take notice of the information, keep up-to-date with the ESA website in terms of warnings and alerts and download the Fires Near Me app.

"If this is a taste of what were dealing with its going to be a very long summer for our firefighters."