Australia wildfire crisis has spread to capital Canberra

Wildfires burned out of control near Australia’s national capital, Canberra, and across surrounding New South Wales state on Saturday, with endangered residents warned to prepare to evacuate. In pic: Fire burns in the grass along the road as firetrucks pass by near Bumbalong, south of the Australian capital, Canberra. (AP)

The threat is posed by a blaze on Canberra's southern fringe that has razed more than 21,500 hectares (53,000 acres) since it was sparked by heat from a military helicopter landing light on Monday, the Emergency Services Agency said. In pic: A helicopter drops water on a fire near Bumbalong, Canberra. (AP)

Firefighters man a roadblock at Michelago, south of the Australian capital, Canberra, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. The threat is posed by a blaze on Canberra's southern fringe that has razed more than 21,500 hectares (53,000 acres) since it was sparked by heat from a military helicopter landing light on Monday, the Emergency Services Agency said. (AP)

The fires threaten Canberra’s southern suburbs and the nearby village of Tharwa, which has been cut off by road closures since Saturday morning. (AP)

The continuing state of emergency is the first in the Australian Capital Territory since 2003, when wildfires killed four people and destroyed almost 500 homes in a single day. In pic: Firefighters put out a spot fire near Michelago, south of the Australian capital, Canberra, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (AP)

Fires across southern Australia have claimed at least 33 lives since September, destroyed more than 3,000 homes and razed more than 10.6 million hectares (26.2 million acres). (AP)