The streets of Canberra have become a safe refuge for people fleeing the fires in the south.
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Camper vans were parked in the city as people headed home from the coast.
One convoy of five vehicles parked outside The Canberra Times on their way from Merimbula to the Yarra Valley.
"The last few days have been horrendous," said Troy Finnen.
The families saw what had happened in Mallacoota where people were trapped by encircling fire, and had been debating whether to leave. Then the police told them to go so they went on Thursday afternoon, reaching Canberra in the evening.
"They said 'we are asking holiday-makers to leave. We need to look after the town and we don't need extra people here'."
The journey north to Canberra was "intense', Mr Finnen said.
"At times we were at snail pace - bumper to bumper." They saw the remains of a head-on crash which happened five minutes ahead.
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He is in construction in the Yarra Valley near Melbourne and can remember the 2008 bushfires there.
He said: "We'll look at bushfires differently now".
But was adamant that the current fires had nothing to do with global warming. "It's just a cycle of drought. This country has always had drought and will continue to do so.
"Should we discuss it? Not yet. Not in the middle of a crisis."
He thinks these fires were going to happen whatever policy there had been 20 years ago. "Would it have stopped this? Absolutely not."
Acting ACT Chief Minister Yvette Berry said the ACT government was providing support for those impacted by the fires, including establishing driver reviver stops and ensuring supplies of P2 face masks for people who needed them.
A Relief Centre has also been set up at Dickson College for those escaping the fires.