Canberra bushfire live updates: Alert level downgraded for Pierces Creek

Firefighters will continue to battle the blaze through the night but the alert level has been downgraded as conditions improve. We'll have more from the fireground tomorrow, so check back in for updates and keep an eye on the ESA website.

But we'll leave you with this map (courtesy of ACT emergency services) showing the intensity of calls for assistance across Canberra's south after today's sudden storm, many in the Kambah area. (We thought we'd had a busy night...)

As we sign off our live coverage tonight, the fire has grown to 147 hectares in size and is burning out of control seven kilometres away from Kambah on Canberra's south-west fringe. But about 8:20pm, emergency services were able to downgrade the alert level from 'Watch and Act' to 'Advice'. Read our wrap of the Pierces Creek fire here.

In Kambah, memories of the devastating 2003 bushfires were fresh in many residents' minds as they prepared their properties. Daniella White and Steve Evans have the story here.

And, while the bushfire raged on, Canberra was also hit by a short and savage storm on Friday afternoon. While it brought little relief to firefighters, the damaging winds did cause some mayhem in town.  Finbar O'Mallon has the run down of trees felled, Halloween houses trashed and airport hangars ripped apart here.

The ACT Emergency Services Agency has downgraded the alert level for the Pierces Creek fire from 'Watch and Act' to 'Advice', but the fire has grown to 147 hectares.

As of 8:20pm, the blaze was still seven kilometres away from Kambah, burning out of control and continuing to move towards Canberra's south-west fringe.

The downgraded alert means that while there is a fire, "there is no immediate danger to the community", the ESA said in a statement.

Emergency Services Commissioner Dominic Lane said a punishing drought in the region was making conditions particularly dangerous for firefighters this bushfire season.

"Two years ago here in 2016, it was as green as anything, now it's as dry as anything," he said. "We are almost in a record dry period for Canberra."

What you should be doing

The current alert level is set to 'Watch and Act', meaning conditions can change quickly and you should consider your bushfire survival plan. Those in Canberra's south, particularly Kambah and Gordon, are advised to prepare for an evacuation should the fire spread.

Where to get updates

The ESA website is the best place to get updates, along with ESA ACT's social media channels. You can also listen to ABC Radio Canberra and follow The Canberra Times online. Stay on top of the weather conditions at the Bureau of Meterology website. You can call Access Canberra directly for information on 13 22 81.

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Unfortunately, the storm that lashed Canberra didn't help firefighting efforts but it did cause some mayhem across town today.

Finbar O'Mallon has the run down of trees felled, Halloween houses trashed and airport hangars ripped apart here.

The severe thunderstorm warning for the ACT has since been cancelled but the health directorate has warned of a possible thunderstorm asthma event which could continue into the weekend.

Trees were felled and airport hangar roofs ripped off in the storm that briefly lashed Canberra on Friday.  The Canberra Halloween House in Wanniassa didn't fare much better.

The owners of the haunted house vowed to rebuild in a Facebook post revealing the damage on Friday evening.

'We won't be operating tonight, luckily we had taken all but a few [things] inside in preparation," the post read.

The house raised $1200 for the Stella Bella Children's Centre on the two nights it was open over the spooky season.

• An out-of-control fire to the west of Tuggeranong is moving towards Canberra
• The 135-hectare blaze is now seven kilometres from Kambah and remains at a "watch and act" alert
• More than 20 crews are on scene but conditions are difficult as strong winds persist
• But no properties are currently under threat and no evacuation orders have been issued
• Some people have taken their horses to EPIC which is offering free stabling
• The fire started from a burnt-out car near Pierces Creek, a former forestry settlement, that was also burnt in the 2003 bushfires
• Storms briefly lashed Canberra on Friday evening, felling trees and ripping the roof off a Canberra airport hangar
• But the 1.4 milimetres of rain that fell had "minimal impact" on the firefront, ESA says
• A command centre as been set up near the Cotter Reserve as firefighting efforts continue into the weekend
• ESA Commissioner Dominic Lane warned Canberrans to be prepared, saying he expected the fire to reach about 300 hectares in size before it was contained

The winds that knocked down trees and tore the roof off an airport hangar in Canberra on Friday should ease over the weekend, forecasters say, as firefighters continue to battle the blaze near Pierces Creek.

Finbar O'Mallon has the latest from the Bureau of Meteorology.