A huge bushfire burning for several days in central Australia is inching close to the popular tourist town of Tennant Creek.
Local authorities say a change in the wind could put the town at risk.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Nicole Manison has declared an emergency for the Barkly area while Tennant Creek is placed under a ‘watch and act’ alert.
This is a ‘heightened’ threat level which recommends residents make contingency plans for a possible evacuation.
The town has a population of about 3,000 and is a popular stop for tourists on outback road trips between Alice Springs and Darwin.
As of late Wednesday, the fire was about 30km away from the town.
Wildfires in the region have scorched about two million hectares so far.
Extra fire crews from South Australia arrived in the town on Wednesday to help containment efforts.
The Bureau of Meteorology this week forecast extreme fire risk for many areas of the Northern Territory.
