For many Canberrans...today, January eighteen, is a painful reminder of the horrific bushfires that devastated the capital seven years ago.

Houses and communities may have been rebuilt but the memories are still very raw.

So much was lost on this day seven years ago. The Canberra bushfires claimed four lives, destroyed five hundred homes and devastated the entire community.

"Today is a mark of remembrance and a time to stop very very briefly and understand and be with those who lost so much and also be confident we learnt a lot from that experience," said Emergency Services Commissioner Mark Crosweller.

While there's much more resources to fight and prevent fires, there's no room for complacency. The territory's new phone warning system, which is ready to roll, is the latest tool to save local lives and homes in the future.