North Canberra residents were woken by a series of huge explosions and fireballs from a factory fire in Mitchell early this morning, as emergency services raised fears over the spread of toxic smoke plumes across the area.Emergency Services have now confirmed that the smoke is dissipating, and the exclusion zone has been reduced back to just the suburb of Mitchell.
However all government schools on the northside of Canberra, including Belconnen, Gungahlin and the Inner North, will be closed.
Residents of Franklin, Crace, Harrison, Watson, Downer, Kaleen, Lyneham and Hackett had earlier been warned to stay indoors, close doors and windows and not use air conditioners or heaters.
About 100 people have been evacuated to Dickson College. more
