Australia’s Capital Declares State of Emergency Over Wildfire

A wildfire threatening property glows on the hills near Clear Range, south of the Australian capital, Canberra, on Jan. 31, 2020. Rick Rycroft/AP Photo

Australia’s capital declared a state of emergency and total fire ban over a raging wildfire.

It’s the first fire emergency for the Australian Capital Territory area since 2003 when wildfires killed four people and destroyed almost 500 homes in a single day.