People were warned to take care when lighting fires because there was a high fire danger surrounding the ACT's countryside, The Canberra Times reported on its front page.
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A spokesperson said that strong winds, lack of rain and warm temperatures were the cause of danger. Two controlled burns in the bush south-west of Canberra were burning slowly. Wind speeds were recorded up to 65km/h.
And you would be forgiven for thinking of Dickensian London, seeing 17-year-old Caroline Owens pictured on the front page working as a chimney sweep. The year 12 Narrabundah College student cleaned six to eight chimneys each weekend in the peak period from January to April.
"In some of the chimneys we find all sorts of things, dead birds and possums and sometimes a skeleton," she said. Miss Owen got the job when her brothers left the business, Fireplace Lady, owned by her mother. After each day on the job, Miss Owens, who lived in Downer, comes back to earth covered in soot.
