Canberra Office Of National Emergency Service Closes Because Of Air Quality 2X Worse Than Beijing

The Australian federal government department responsible for managing emergencies shut its Canberra office due to poor air quality on Monday as the nation's capital choked on smoke from deadly bushfires.

On Monday, Canberra had a rating over 340 on the Air Quality Index -- higher than Beijing's 170. Australia has been ravaged by some of the worst wildfires seen in decades, with the massive blazes destroying homes, devastating wildlife, turning skies blood red and leaving a total of 24 people dead nationwide.

The Department of Home Affairs told non-essential staff to stay away from its Canberra headquarters, while the Department of Health told staff not to work out of one of its locations. Child care services in the city were also shut.

YWCA Canberra -- which operates a number of child care centers -- said that like many Canberra organizations, it had opted to close all of its children's services in the Australian Capital Territory and the rural New South Wales town of Murrumbateman on Monday due to "hazardous smoke conditions." "This is to ensure the health and well-being of our staff and the children in our services," YWCA Canberra said in a statement on its Facebook page.

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https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/06/australia/australia-fires-capital-intl-hnk/index.html