Fed: Canberra's bushfire season extended

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2006
Fed: Canberra's bushfire season extended

CANBERRA, April 28 AAP - Prolonged dry conditions and significant grass fuel levels
have forced Canberra authorities to extend this year's bushfire season into the middle
of autumn.

ACT Emergency Services Authority today said the bushfire season would run for at least
another two weeks.

Just three years after devastating bushfires ripped through the national capital, the
lack of rain has left fuel-heavy grass lands dry, and a potential fire trap.

Four people were killed in the 2003 fires and about 500 homes were lost.

ACT rural fire service chief Michael Ross says the situation is being assessed daily.

"The weather bureau is forecasting no significant variation to the weather patterns
the ACT has been experiencing over the recent months," Mr Ross said.

"We have had no good rain falls and there are none expected for the immediate future, he said.

"This has left us with some extremely dry grass lands, which has the potential to burn
very easily should we have a source of ignition, even though the air temperature is much
cooler."

AAP pv/so/evt

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRE

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