Firefighters were continuing to manage a fire at Mulligans Flat, eight kilometres north-west of Sutton, late Wednesday night.
NSW Rural Fire Service's Fred Nichols said 22 ACT Rural Fire Service units were on the scene supported by six bulk water vehicles, and eight aircraft attempting to hold the fire east of Sutton Road.
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Severe grass fire claims home in Tarago
At least one home and several farm buildings have been claimed by a grass fire in the Southern Tablelands, as firefighters face hot and windy conditions.
"They have plenty of personnel on that," he said. "There will be a lot of mopping up with 400 odd hectares there but there has been no property loss reported so far."
Residents should still be on high alert, but firefighters have slowed the spread of the grass fire.
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Earlier, police blocked Sutton Road and Mulligans Flat Road, while Shingle Hill Way was closed in both directions between the Federal Highway and Sutton Road and East Tallagandra Lane was closed in both directions between Mulligans Flat Road and Sutton Road.
500 hectares burned at Mulligans Flat Rd, Sutton fire. Big thanks to our friends from @ACTRFS for 28 vehicles, dozens of firefighters today. pic.twitter.com/S59WNJC5ty
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 18, 2017
A private contractor trucking water in to help the firefighting efforts on the ground told Fairfax Media he and other contractors had been called in to help deliver water to the firefighting trucks.
He said the Sutton village was looking safer as at about 6.10pm, however the fire was burning aggressively towards Gundaroo.
"A lot of private contractors are bringing water as fast as they can," he said.
The front of the fire came within one kilometre of Courtney Chalman's property on Sutton Road.
Ten minutes before he finished work police blocked the streets leading to his home and he was left wondering if he would have a home to go to.
"The worst thing is sitting and waiting, because the police didn't tell me much," Mr Chalman said.
Fortunately a quick thinking neighbour got to his home to retrieve his bulldog, Zeus.
Mr Chalman has lived in the area for more than six years and he said he has never seen a situation like Wednesday.
He hopes his cockatoo, which was stranded at his home, was alright.
Access Canberra confirmed Exhibition Park in Canberra has been opened as a evacuation centre for horses. Horse owners are responsible for animal care and details are here.
MULLIGANS FLAT RD IS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC AT THE NSW BORDER DUE TO CURRENT BUSHFIRE SITUATION. AVOID THE AREA
— ACTPol_Traffic (@ACTPol_Traffic) January 18, 2017
The Fires Near Me website says the out-of-control fire has burned through more than 520 hectares.
The fire is generating a large amount of smoke over northern Canberra, but the ACT Emergency Services Agency says reports of a fire in Gungahlin were untrue.
"If there is any threat to the ACT from this fire or any other fire that may start appropriate alerts and or warnings will be issued immediately," it said.