Remote grassland fire burning south of Yass sends smoke over Canberra
A grass fire burning south of Yass has sent smoke billowing across Canberra, but authorities say it is being controlled.
The 1,214-hectare fire is about halfway between Lake Burrinjuck and the ACT's north-western border.
It is burning in remote grassland near Sawyers Gully Road at Mullion, but is not threatening any property.
While the fire is yet to be contained the alert level has been set at "advice", indicating no immediate danger.
A NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman said there were 24 trucks at the scene this morning, who were focussing their efforts on the western edge and the north-east corner of the fire.
He said Sawyers Gully Road and Mountain Creek Road were closed, except for local traffic.
Smoke from the fire lingered over the ACT this morning causing a grey cloud haze and and a strong smell of smoke.
'No threat to the ACT at all'
Emergency Services Agency commissioner Dominic Lane told 666 ABC Canberra that Canberrans had no reason to be alarmed about the fire.
"While there's still a fair bit of smoke over Canberra there's no threat to the ACT at all," he said.
Mr Lane said an ACT Rural Fire Service strike team had been sent north to support NSW fire crews at Yass in their efforts to contain the blaze.
Firefighters have been tackling the flames from above using water-bombing aircraft and on Tuesday additional resources from the ACT were sent to Murrumbatemen to support air operations from that location.
ACT volunteers also assisted with aviation support at Canberra Airport and the Hume Helicopter Base during the afternoon.
RFS volunteers from Canberra are expected to continue providing support to their NSW counterparts over the coming days, to contain and mop up the fire.
The fire danger rating in the ACT and to the north of Canberra in NSW is currently set at high.
To the south of the territory, in the Bombala, Cooma-Monaro and Snowy River local council areas, the fire danger is rated as low to moderate.
It comes as bushfires continue to burn out of control in Victoria's north-east, with some properties lost and one person missing.
