Firefighters battling the North Black Range fire near Braidwood should expect something of a reprieve over the weekend as conditions ease.
But there will be no time to rest as the Rural Fire Service will aim to undertake important work to prepare for heightened risks on Monday and Tuesday.
Queanbeyan fire patrol spokesman Daniel Osbourne said crews would be working to solidify containment lines around the 32,000 hectare fire and fight it directly where possible.
"That's so us and the community are in the best possible position heading into [Monday]," Mr Osbourne said.
Fire activity increased to the north-east and south-east of the main fire on Thursday, threatening the areas of Warri and Majors Creek.
The fire continued to increase in these areas on Friday, necessitating the closure of the Kings Highway, but firefighters were able to remain largely on top of it.
Conditions flared up on Saturday afternoon leading to a watch and act alert for Warri residents.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Katarina Kovacevic said on Friday afternoon that temperatures and winds should ease across the weekend.
"Winds probably won't be as strong [as Thursday and Friday]," Ms Kovacevic said.
"Easterly winds tend to be a little cooler and more humid and fire behaviour has usually reduced in the past."
The easterly winds could blow smoke across the ACT, Ms Kovacevic said, with Sunday night into Monday morning likely to be the smokiest period in the ACT.
Monday will bring significantly increased temperatures and a return of the stronger westerly winds.
Braidwood is expected to hit 35 degrees on Monday and Canberra will go one better with 36 degrees predicted.
On Friday there were more than 160 firefighters fighting the North Black Range fire, supported by seven aircraft, heavy machinery and about 40 incident management staff providing support from Queanbeyan headquarters.
Mr Osbourne said the RFS had no intention of scaling back operations.
He said a lot of work had been reactive and hoped the weekend would provide an opportunity to do some proactive work.
READ MORE:
-
North Black Range fire roars across the landscape threatening homes
- North Black Range fire photos captured by The Canberra Times
-
South Coast residents presented with worst-case scenario at Currowan fire community meeting
- 'Devastated': Couple loses hand-built home to North Black Range fire
Crews would use bulldozers in the Butmaroo area on the weekend to create a control line and would backburn where possible.
"We'll do some preemptive property protection while we've got time top do that it's a good thing to do," Mr Osbourne said.
"We're working towards bringing it under control, crews are doing the best they can.
"We just have to take it shift by shift."
Mr Osbourne's message to residents in the affected area was to continue closely monitoring conditions and don't become complacent.
"There is still a lot of fire in the landscape, be ready to take decisive action if fire threatens," he said.
"And looking forward, if your property is not properly protected, take this as an absolute warning to prepare.
"We're only at the start of December.
"This is not going to be over any time soon."
Firefighters agree it will take significant rain to put this and the south coast fire out.
Ms Kovacevic said there was some chance of showers towards the end of next week. But that was "getting into crystal ball territory" and they were unlikely to bring heavy rainfall.
"A couple of light showers aren't going to do anything to those fires," she said.
