He urged Canberrans to "prepare for the worst case scenario".
He was speaking alongside grim-faced chiefs of the emergency service, military and police who were preparing for a long night of effort as the Orroral Valley fire in the Namadgi National Park roared out of control.
Mr Barr's tough warning was pitched to prevent panic but also to be strong enough to instill in Canberrans an urgent need to plan.
"Be alert not alarmed", Emergency Services Commissioner Georgeina Whelan said.
"Conditions are very dangerous," she added, warning that the emergency services were stretched.
People shouldn't expect a fire-fighter at every door, as she put it. "I will not be able to put a fire truck on every corner."Police and ACT government workers were preparing to knock doors and advise people in Canberra's southern suburbs on Tuesday evening...<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>...