The Orroral Valley fire was upgraded to emergency warning level on Friday afternoon and filled the air with plumes of dark smoke and generated pyrocumulonimbus clouds as temperatures soared into the 40s.
The worsening 'erratic' conditions prompted the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) to release a series of urgent 'Leave Now' alerts to people in affected areas.
'Conditions are now very dangerous, and the fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path,' the latest alert read,'Fire crews may not be able to protect you and your property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door. If you are not in the area, do not return. Soon it will be too dangerous to drive.'
The Orroral Valley fire spread from 18,000 hectares to 21,510 within hours on Friday afternoon and is now threatening homes in the capital's southern rural outskirts.
Residents on Apollo, Boboyan, Top Naas and Corin roads are urged to leave if 'safe to do so' via Naas Road heading towards Tharwa and Canberra.
'The bushfire is moving south and east and has spotted in the Billy Range to the west of Naas Road,' the ESA alert states.'The fire is also moving north slowly and is currently 1km south of Corin Road.'...<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>...
