Dolphin Sands is at risk again from a bushfire with a watch and act alert in place
The threat of a bushfire has been downgraded for the Dolphin Sands area. Residents are praising the firefighting efforts protecting the town. The latest.
Update 10.40am
Dolphin Sands residents are being urged to remain alert following a vegetation fire.
The blaze that started at 7.15am is reportedly under control with Tasmania Fire Service advising the community to monitor conditions.
The fire burnt through approximately 0.6HA with crews from five brigades responding quickly with seven trucks and nine aircraft.
Residents praised the firefighting efforts, saying the quick response kept them safe.
No home or building have been damaged due to the blaze.
Deputy Chief Officer Matt Lowe says with high temperatures forecast today, and strong winds on Tuesday, the likelihood of fires across the state becoming uncontrollable increased.
He said hot day response was initiated with doubling the brigade response to any fires that occur.
“While TFS has these measures in place, we also ask community members to take responsibility for keeping themselves and their neighbours safe.” Mr Lowe said.
Update 9.10am
A Dolphin Sands residents have praised the response of aerial firefighting units after a bushfire threatened properties in the East Coast community this morning.
“They threw the kitchen sink at it early, so I think things are going to be OK,” Ian Melrose, of Melshell Oyster Shack, told the Mercury.
Mr Melrose said the fire looked threatening about 7am to 7.30am but fixed wing aircraft doing water bombing runs swung into action to subdue the worst of the flames.
It (fire) got going pretty well, but thanks to the firefighters who got moving on it pretty quickly it didn’t get worse.
“They seemed to get on top if it pretty well.”
Mr Melrose believed up to six water bombers were being used, as well as ground tankers.
Another property owner, Warren Lashmar, said the quick response was critical.
“They just smashed it.
“It was an extraordinary show of force with the planes coming in.”
Video of planes flying overhead as they conduct the water bombing has been distributed on social media.
Mr Melrose is unsure how the fire started.
He described the fire as being on the “beach side” of Dolphin Sands, in sand dunes and bushland along Nine Mile Beach.
The alert has been downgraded to advice of monitoring conditions with no immediate threat.
Tasmania Fire Service is attending and conditions are set to improve.
Initial 7.50am
Dolphin Sands residents are being asked once again to be on alert for a bushfire after TasAlert issued a warning to monitor conditions.
The fire is expected to hit Dolphin Sand Rd, Dolphin Sands and surrounding area by 30 minutes.
The advice is to monitor conditions and for residents to prepare to leave.
Tasmania Fire Service says the fire is expected to be difficult to control and conditions are set to worsen.
Fire and police are in the area now.
Water bombers are also being used to tame the blaze.
The first alert of the fire was made at 7.20am.
Originally published as Dolphin Sands is at risk again from a bushfire with a watch and act alert in place
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