St Helens bushfire threat passes following admirable effort from fire crews
Update: Authorities will launch an investigation into how a controlled burn-off was able to threaten properties as evacuated residents begin returning home.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LATEST LOCAL NEWS:
- REVEALED: When Tasmania’s borders will open to the rest of the country
- Young girl among multiple killed in Midland Highway crash
UPDATE 6PM: PROPERTIES on Tasmania’s East Coast would have been lost on Saturday if it weren’t for the efforts of firefighters, an incident controller has said.
The worst of the 840ha bushfire has passed for St Helens residents who have been on high alert since 10.30am amid an ongoing Emergency Warning.
Tasmania Fire Service incident controller Dave Castellar said flames had been fanned by “very strong north-westerly winds” between 12 and 1pm.
But easing conditions approaching at 4pm and efforts from crews saw the threat level reduce significantly after fearful residents had evacuated to St Helens Football Ground.
Mr Castellar said residents near Argonaut Rd and Madeas Cove Rd had been particularly at risk from the “erratic winds”
“There has been no property loss or damage which has been a credit to all the crews involved at the fire,” he said.
He said current fire activity was “minimal”.
“Crews have got containment lines in and they’re continuing to strengthen those,” he said.
“They’re blackening out around the fire edge around properties.”
Tasmania Police and the Break O’Day Council have been returning evacuated residents to their homes since 4pm.
Mr Castellar said early October fires weren’t uncommon on the East Coast, with this incident serving a “timely reminder” for people to establish and update bushfire survival plans.
He said authorities would conduct a full investigation into the cause of the blaze.
“[The fire] was in and around an area that Sustainable Timbers conducted a fuel reduction burn earlier in the week,” he said.
“We’re going to undertake an investigation into how that fire did start, whether it was from the fuel reduction burn or if some other cause has started it.”
UPDATE 4PM: EASING winds have offered some hope for St Helens residents as bushfire smoke blankets the area, but the threat is far from over.
The fire was reported to TFS just after 10:30am.
An Emergency Warning was activated for the fire at midday which has since been downgraded to Watch and Act.
The fire is currently burning in a south-easterly direction, approximately 3km to the west of the St Helens township.
Around 20 ground crews from TFS, Sustainable Timber Tasmania and Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service are working on the fire, supported by three helicopters.
Crews are currently focusing their efforts on protecting properties in the path of the fire.
Mark Bowden, who lives 4km from St Helens near Constable Creek, said the bushfire had come within 500m of his home.
His wife had left to stay with a friend after her asthma was triggered by the smog, while Mr Bowden had packed his belongings and pet dog in the car ready to dash.
“We did a quick loading up, you make a quick decision of what you imagine is vital and what you don’t want to lose,” he said.
“We’ve only lived here two years but certainly this East Coast bush is very susceptible to fires because of its very dry nature.
“When we moved here we were aware of the danger.”
Mr Bowden said he was feeling more relaxed seeing the wind drop and the smoke start to clear this afternoon about 3.40pm.
Break O’Day Council Mayor Mick Tucker hoped the lull in wild weather would give the firefighters and helicopter crews an edge in the battle.
Mayor Tucker said he had seen about half a dozen people arrive at the evacuation centre at St Helens Football Club and he expected more to trickle in later.
“We want everyone to say alert, not alarmed,” he said.
“Get to the evacuation centre if you’ve got any concerns whatsoever.
“Look out for text alerts and reports.”
He said St Helens was a “resilient” community who had dealt with their “fair share of fires”.
People recreating on the St Helens Mountain Bike Trails have been evacuated with the assistance of Tasmania Police and Break O’Day Council.
The fire is understood to have originated from a fuel reduction burn conducted earlier this week at Launceston Creek which has broken containment lines.
EARLIER: MOUNTAIN bike trails are being evacuated around St Helens after a controlled burn-off jumped containment lines.
The Tasmania Fire Service issued an emergency warning just after 12pm stating there was a bushfire putting Stonyford Track at high risk.
The warning said the fire would be difficult to control.
Break O’Day mayor Mick Tucker said mountain bike and walking trails in the Launceston Creek and Stonyford Track area were being evacuated, as extremely strong winds made for dangerous conditions.
“People are ringing us from the trail saying they’re OK and others we can’t locate because of the terrain,” Mr Tucker told ABC Radio.
He said local responders were working hard to “get a handle on” how many people were currently using the tracks and it was very hard to tell exactly where the fire was.
“We’ve had visual sightings of the flames (from people on the tracks) … but it’s hard to know where they are,” he said, adding that the fire could get away quickly in such conditions.”
The fire started as a fuel reduction burn earlier in the week.
“There was a controlled burn off that has got out of control and jumped containment lines,” Mr Tucker said.
The emergency warning said falling embers would threaten homes before the main fire and smoke and ash would make it difficult to see and breathe.
The following roads and trails are closed due to dangerous conditions resulting from bushfire activity:
- Argonaut Road, St Helens.
- Heritage Road, St Helens
- St. Helens Mountain Bike Trails, St Helens
WHAT TO DO:
- If your home is well prepared for high risk fires and you can actively defend it, it should provide shelter.
- If your home is unprepared go to a safer location now only if the path is clear.
- There is an Evacuation Centre at St Helens Football Club.
- If your family has made a bushfire survival plan, use it now.
- If you don’t live near St Helens – Stonyford Track, stay away.
- Listen to ABC Local Radio or look at www.fire.tas.gov.au for more information.
Originally published as St Helens bushfire threat passes following admirable effort from fire crews