1.20pm: Since this story was filed, the Queanbeyan Rural Fire Service brigade has been deployed to Michelago, where residents are being told it's too late to leave.
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12.30pm: Members of the Queanbeyan Rural Fire Service brigade have spent Saturday morning at their shed, taking in a few hours of cool as they wait and watch while fires burn nearby in NSW and the ACT.
With out-of-area strike teams stationed throughout the firegrounds, the Queanbeyan brigade has been allowed to keep its focus on its own area.
Brigade captain Nick Hornbuckle said firefighters always wanted to go in when a fire started, but it was a good sign when his team was not immediately needed.
"When it does happen, it's game on. Everyone's out the door to go and do it. Again, given the current fire season, it's been nice to sit in the air-con and watch TV and not have to do things sometimes.
"Either way it goes, I don't think anyone will be disappointed if that makes sense. If we get to go and help, we get to go and help. If we sit here and do nothing, that's good. Then it hasn't been as bad as we thought," he said.
The Clear Range fire has so far not made it to the grasslands, but if it does, Mr Hornbuckle's brigade would probably be sent in to respond.
Mr Hornbuckle said the long fire season had taken its toll on firefighters.
"It's not just the days of massive fire, flames crowning through the trees. The longest period is the mop up after that, establishing containment lines, all that sort of stuff," he said.
"It's long hard work and people are really getting tired. It causes a bit of stress, less so much dealing with the actual fire and fighting the fire, but it's the stress on family, the stress on work, trying to balance that all out.
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"Traditionally you could take a few days here and there, it's not too much of a problem. Now it's becoming a constant, and you're overloaded with a lot of things at the moment, hoping for a break."
The unprecedented conditions have also led to shifts in how firefighters tackle blazes.
Mr Hornbuckle said there had been discussions about new tactics and how to approach the task, with a focus on bold efforts to contain fires.
"This season, funnily enough, we've actually used less water in the truck than [we] have most seasons. That sounds odd because it's been such a busy season.
"It's because the fire's been so intense that we can't do anything with it. So you're basically looking after yourself. Using a little bit of water, protect the house and move to the next one, the next one and the next one."
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
