Fed: Victorian fire crews move to ACT to help local crews

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2001
Fed: Victorian fire crews move to ACT to help local crews

CANBERRA, Dec 27 AAP - Victorian fire crews will help battle five fires continuing
to burn around Canberra today as strong winds are expected to ease.

The fires which began on Christmas Eve continued to burn yesterday, with firefighters
centring on major fires in Stromlo pine forest, west of the city, and across the border
in Queanbeyan.

No homes were lost in the ACT and injuries were minor but firefighters were preparing
for a frantic week, with temperatures expected to soar again by the weekend.

Today, however, temperatures are expected to ease to a maximum of 23 degrees Celsius,
with winds dying down.

The winds, which reached up to 60kph overnight, would reach a maximum of 45kph today,
the weather bureau said.

Other fires which continued to burn last night were in the city's north, at O'Connor
Ridge, inner-suburban Red Hill, Mt Wanniassa in the south-west and across the border in
the NSW town of Queanbeyan.

Emergency Services Bureau executive director Mike Castle said two Victorian Country
Fire Authority crews would join 36 ACT fire crews hoping to take advantage of a temporary
breather in the strong winds.

AAP lm/ph

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES ACT DAYLEAD

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