MULTIPLE fire crews are working to extinguish a fire this afternoon in West Belconnen.

ACT Fire & Rescue were alerted to the incident in the industrial area on Parkwood Road just after 2 o’clock.
The fire believed to have started in a pallet has spread into nearby grasslands.

Smoke from the fire is visible over parts of Belconnen.

Firefighters are also evacuating the immediate area within the industrial estate as a precaution.

Update to follow.

14:23

The fire is located in a large pile of timber pallets within the industrial estate approximately 100 metres x 50 metres.

The fire has also spotted in to grasses nearby.

Multiple fire crews from ACT Fire & Rescue and the ACT Rural Fire Service are working to extinguish the fire.

14:36

The ACT Fire & Rescue and ACT Rural Fire Service is working to extinguish a pallet pile and grass fire burning at Parkwood Road.

The Bushfire Alert and Warning Level for this fire has been set at WATCH AND ACT.

The ACT Fire & Rescue and ACT Rural Fire Service has multiple units on scene.

The fire is located in grassland between Parkwood Road and homes at Macgregor, properties backing onto the grassland area along Hollows CIrcuit and Eccles Circuit. The fire is currently several hundred metres from properties with fire crews in place between the fire and home.

The fire is being controlled.

The Fire Danger Rating where this fire is burning is VERY HIGH.

Fires burning in VERY HIGH conditions can be difficult to control – flames may burn into the tree tops.

There is a chance people may die or be injured.

Some homes and businesses may be damaged or destroyed.

Well prepared and actively defended houses can offer safety during a fire.

Embers may be blown ahead of the fire.

Spot fires may occur up to 2 km ahead of the fire.

Your home will only offer safety if it and you are well prepared and you can actively defend it during a fire.

Leaving is the safest option for your survival. You should relocate to the location identified in your Bushfire Survival Plan.

The ESA advises you to monitor the situation for any changes through local ACT media outlets, the ESA website www.esa.act.gov.au, ESA Twitter account @ACT_ESA, ESA Facebook account @ACT Emergency Services Agency, the national version of the Fires Near Me mobile device App or by calling Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.

This advice should be read in conjunction with current weather conditions. Current weather observations can be found on the Bureau of Meteorology website www.bom.gov.au .

The ACT Fire & Rescue and ACT Rural Fire Service is continuing working to extinguish a fire burning at at Parkwood.

The Bushfire Alert and Warning Level for this fire has been set at WATCH AND ACT.

The ACT Fire & Rescue and ACT Rural Fire Service has multiple units on scene.

The grass fire has been largely extinguished following the deployment of water bombing helicopter. There is no threat to homes at this time.

The pallet fire is still burning and being controlled.

3:35pm

Andrew reports from the scene:

Fire near the Belco tip and nursery. Two choppers and countless fire trucks working away. Cops not letting people into new MaCgregor from holt end. Police doing their best and it’s amazing how many people are yelling at them trying to disobey them!

Fortunately the roads are now open:

Fire update, fire contained. Roads in Macgregor now open

— ACTPol_Traffic (@ACTPol_Traffic) December 11, 2015