Emergency services were called to the site, on Yamba Drive, just after 7pm.

Two pumpers fire trucks and two water tankers responded to the fire. An Emergency Services spokeswoman said there were 20 small spot fires within a contained area at the cemetery, measuring 70 by 40 metres.

ACT Fire and Rescue south side commander Craig Perks said the fire was one of a handful of small grass or rubbish fires that emergency services responded to around Canberra's south on Friday, including two on Flinders Way at Griffith and one on Shea St in Phillip.

"Police are investigating the cause of the fire, because there have been a number of grass and bushfires in the area in the last four hours," Mr Perks said.

He said the cause of the fire was unknown, but it was possible the fires had been spread by "white fluff" in the area.

White fluff is a term given to poplar tree seeds, which have hairs to help keep them aloft in the wind.

"We're not really sure at this stage if the fire has spread of its own accord, or if it's being spread [intentionally] by a person or persons," Mr Perks said.

ACT Policing is investigating.

With Dion Georgopoulos