Firefighters are battling a bushfire that is burning out of control near Canberra's two cutting-edge space research centres.
The bushfire is rated ‘watch and act’ but has quadrupled in size since 6am.
It is located in bushland right between the Stromlo Observatory to the north and the Tidbinbilla deep space telescopes to the south.
Speaking with SBS News on the phone from the elevated Stromlo site, astrophysicist Brad Tucker said scientists had been able to see flames in the distance overnight and this morning.
Smoke rises from the Pierces Creek fire near Canberra. Source: AAP
He confirmed scientists were still working at both sites, but were allowed to go home if they needed to.
The observatory was closed to the public, he said.
The Tidbinbilla site is home to some of the most advanced deep space telescopes in the world, and is relied upon by NASA for tracking distant assets.
It has made striking discoveries in the field of gravitational waves, and also tracked the final moments of the Cassini spacecraft as it plunged into Saturn at the end of a 20 year voyage.
School evacuated
Students from a school in the ACT have been evacuated as emergency authorities attempt to control a bushfire from spreading southwest of Canberra.
Emergency authorities are set to begin pre-emptive doorknocking to check in on homes near an out-of-control bushfire in the ACT.
A watch-and-act alert has been issued for the fire burning southwest of Canberra.
Firefighters are attempting to extinguish the bushfire burning at Pierce Creek, which has grown to 113 hectares, and remains 8km from the nearest suburb.
The fire is burning erratically but it poses no threat to property and evacuations have not been ordered for residents or animals.
Targeted areas for the doorknock had already been identified as part of an ACT government bushfire awareness campaign.
Emergency Services Commissioner Dominic Lane said winds are expected to pick up on Friday, making it difficult for firefighters to stop the blaze from spreading.
He confirmed students from a school in the area had been evacuated into Canberra and the ESA was working carefully with farmers and residents.
"Canberra is a bushfire-prone area, we are the bush capital," Mr Lane said.
"We do ask Canberrans to get ready, download the bushfire survival plan, go through the four simple steps of preparing that plan and getting ready for days like today."
A total fire-ban has been put in place for Friday in the ACT.
Canberra is heading for a maximum 33C.
