Bushfire Update

There are currently 2 bushfires in the ACT - Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Bushfire - Mount Gingera Bushfire - West of Corrin Dam Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Bushfire Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve will be closed tomorrow (SATURDAY) as a precautionary measure due to a small bushfire started by lightning strike this afternoon. The Rural Fire Service has identified the location of the fire and is actively working to extinguish it. A Remote Area Firefighting Team has been winched into the remote area of bushland to fight the fire. In addition a firefighting helicopter has dropped buckets of water on the fire until last light. Good progress is being made with crews remaining on scene until the fire is extinguished. The fire is restricted to a very small area near the Ashbrooke Creek fire trail. The location of the fire is in close proximity to the Tidbinbilla public ring road, which will necessitate the closure of the reserve in the interests of public safety. There is no current threat to the captive animals and facilities at Tidbinbilla. The Tidbinbilla Visitor Centre will remain open. To confirm opening arrangements for Sunday 20 January 2019 please call 13 22 81 or visit www.tidbinbilla.act.gov.au Mount Gingera Bushfire Firefighting helicopters continued to drop buckets of water on the fire until last light. The fire is approximately 1 hectare in size and in extremely steep country. A NSW Rural Fire Service Rapid Aerial Response Team was inserted via helicopter and worked until last light before they were extracted. ACT Rural Fire Service Firefighters will remain on scene throughout the night. Aviation and additional ground crews will re-commence from first light. An update to the ACT Community will be provided by 9:00am Saturday morning.