NT bushfire covers Alice Springs in smoke and shuts Stuart Highway for several hours

Emergency services recommend people with asthma and breathing ailments stay inside as reported hazard reduction burn gets out of control

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Smoke blanketed Alice Springs and the Stuart Highway was closed to traffic for several hours on Sunday after what was reported to be a planned fuel reduction burn in Tjoritja West MacDonnell national park got out of control.

Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services (PFES) said on Sunday morning the fire was not contained on one or more fronts. The fire incident map for the area showed three separate blazes with two under control around Simpsons North and Larapinta.

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