17th January 2003
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| Children in the urban area of Hawker prepare their homes for the likely occurrence of a bushfire. |
It has been 9 days since the national bushfires started in
Victoria and NSW. Wind speeds have intensified
to over 20km/hr and temperature is rapidly inclining. Fires are burning around
the fringe of the ACT but are yet to enter the Territory. They are suspected to
make a breakthrough and target Canberra early morning tomorrow if conditions
worsen. This uncertainty has made it
difficult for information regarding the fires to be distributed to the
community, however people living within
the rural Western suburbs of ACT are urged to sufficiently prepare for upcoming
fires in case of the need to evacuate. All have been informed to keep their telephone lines accessible and tune in to the ABC radio
channel for any upcoming information or news.
-Olivia Brown, ABC Reporter
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| This image shows the position of the fires on the 17th of January 2003. From what is displayed, the fires have not yet entered Canberra but burn in clusters around its fringe. |
-Olivia Brown, ABC Reporter
