A stolen motor vehicle was set alight in dense bushland in the Pierces Creek region of Canberra on Saturday evening, causing a fire in the surrounding scrub.
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The fire was extingushed by ACT Fire and Rescue crews, but an Emergency Services Agency spokesman said they were very concerned with how quickly and easily the area caught alight despite recent rain.
The scenario parallels that which started the Pierces Creek blaze in a similar location at the start of November. That bushfire burned for days, resulting in evacuations of live stock and a threat to homes on Canberra's western urban fringe.
An ESA spokesman said the fire on Saturday was significant, but was able to be contained to an area of 10 metres by 50 metres.
"It's part of the same region of bush and very similar bushland to the Pierces Creek bushfire," the spokesman said.
The fire started about 5.15pm on Saturday.
By 6.30pm it had been extinguished, with one Fire and Rescue appliance remaining on scene to wait for the Australian Federal Police to arrive and investigate.
The ESA spokesman said there is an ongoing concern that people would set stolen motor vehicles alight, particularly in areas of heavy bushland.
"With the recent events [of the Pierces Creek fire], hopefully the police are able to find some further information from the scene," the spokesman said.
