Tasmanian bushfires: Central Highland communities have been urged to take action now
Firefighters are working to control blazes while conditions are favourable before higher fire danger weather hits later this week. Their message.
February 26: Authorities are urging Tasmanians to remain alert as bushfires continue to burn in the state’s Central Highlands.
Watch and Act warnings remain in place for the Central Highlands and surrounding area, while several fires have reportedly been brought within containment lines this morning.
Incident controller Mark Klop said about 100 firefighters were responding to the incident in a combined effort between Tasmania Fire Service, Tasmania Park and Wildlife Service and Sustainable Timber Tasmania.
“Over the weekend firefighters have done a lot of work in the Osterley and Bradys Lake area, and it’s important for us to get on top of these as much as possible now before we hit higher fire danger weather later this week,” he said.
“The fire at Osterley, down into Ouse, is quite challenging due to the terrain and crews are using machinery to construct some fire breaks to help them gain access to the area.”
“Our plan is to consolidate the boundaries of the fires as much as possible before that weather comes through on Wednesday.”
“As well as our ground crews, we have Remote Area Firefighters and our aerial resources working to control the fires.”
Mr Klop said Tasmanians needed to remain vigilant and informed.
“Please avoid any fire in the landscape, it’s extremely dry out there, and take extra care if you are using any kind of machinery or apparatus that can cause sparks,” he said.
Earlier: Cental Highlands communities are being urged to take action now with changing conditions.
People in the vicinity of Victoria Valley Rd and Wilgrams Way are being warned to monitor conditions and that embers, smoke and ash may fall on Highland Waters.
“The fire is travelling towards Highland Waters,” a TasAlerts message said.
“The fire is expected to be controlled.”
If unprepared, people are being urged to be ready to leave for a safer place.
A relief centre has been set up in Hamilton at 15 Franklin Place.
Wheezy start as smoke sweeps into Hobart
February 25:
People with asthma and other medical conditions have been urged to avoid spending too much time outside as smoke from bushfires shrouds Greater Hobart.
The smoky start to the day meant for a spectacular sunrise but prompted an alert from authorities to take extra care in the Central Highlands, Derwent Valley, Brighton, Glenorchy and surrounding areas.
“People at higher risk from the effects of smoke, including those with medical conditions, should enact their personal plan for avoiding smoke and managing their health,” a TasAlerts message said.
“People travelling in the area should be careful if driving in smoke. Turn on your headlights, drive slowly and be aware of emergency services in the area.”
The state Health Department websitehas general advice for asthmatics and others affected by smoke.
“If it’s smoky, and you have a health condition such as asthma, you should actively manage your symptoms,” the website says.
“Follow your asthma action plan, or your plan for managing flare-ups of other health conditions. If you don’t have an action plan, see your GP.
“If your symptoms worsen, call 000, go to your nearest hospital or go to your nearest GP.”
The advice says to reduce risks, vulnerable people should stay indoors, turn air conditioners to recirculate or recycle.
“If a lot of smoke from outside gets in or your home or gets too hot, consider visiting a friend’s place, or a nearby library, shopping centre or sports centre if they have airconditioning or are out of the smoky area.”
Central Highlands bushfires tear through 5000ha
Tasmanian Fire Service are urging people to be aware of conditions as fireys continue to fight blazes in the Central Highlands.
A watch and act was issued for Dee, Bradys Lake, Tarraleah and surrounds on Saturday with Victoria Valley and Osterley issued a prepare to leave warning.
About 80 fireys were on the ground, supported by 12 aircraft and 10 machinery assets.
“The total number of hectares burnt is now approximately 5000, and to date there has been no further property losses,” Incident Controller Mark Klop said.
“The fires remain active and a change in weather conditions could put properties at risk and make roads unsafe – people in the area must take action to protect themselves and their families.
“The Lanes Tier fire in particular has the potential to expand and impact properties.”
It comes as a criminal investigation for a Central Highlands bushfire which destroyed shacks and infrastructure was launched on Friday, with the fires believed to be deliberately lit.
Police are calling for information about the causes of the fires.
Central Highlands Deputy Mayor Jim Allwright, who lives in Ouse, said it was a wake up call for everyone to be vigilant.
“There was a little wisp of smoke on the northern side of Ouse, coming down the eastern side (on Saturday) but it’s sort of not really that prominent,” he said.
“Friday and the day before had a lot of smoke.
“The authorities believe they were deliberately lit, so that’s a bit of a wake up call for people to be aware of that sort of stuff.”
Meanwhile, Tasmania Police have charged a 13 year old for allegedly lighting fires during a Total Fire Ban in Southern Tasmania.
Emergency services responded to a fire about 5:30pm in Cygnet on Friday, with Tasmania Fire Service crews quickly extinguishing the blaze on a grassland near the back of a residence.
There was significant damage to a campervan.
In a separate incident, emergency services received multiple triple-0 (000) calls on Saturday of a blaze burning on the side of the Channel Hwy at Margate.
The property owner and fire crews quickly contained the fire to a small area, where it was extinguished.
Police charged a 67-year-old man in relation to the incident.
Shacks, infrastructure destroyed as ‘Deliberately lit’ blaze draw ire
February 23, 5:30pm
Bushfires burning out of control in the Central Highlands have claimed shacks and infrastructure, as crew continue to battle the blaze from the ground and the air. Meanwhile, police believe two of the blazes were deliberately lit.
Tasmania Fire Service deputy chief officer Matt Lowe said 22 crews and 12 aircraft were being used to fight the five blazes in the area, with a watch and act warning still in place at Dee, Bradys Lake, Tarraleah and surrounds.
“We know of two shacks that have been destroyed by fire and some Hydro Tasmania assets,” Mr Lowe said.
“We have three fires of concern. We have one on the western side of Osterley, and then we have another two fires on either side of Dee Lagoon.”
Tasmania Police Southern District Commander Jason Elmer said the fires were believed to be deliberately lit.
“It’s appalling,” Commander Elmer said.
“It has the potential to risk the lives of the community, to risk property, to risk people’s livelihoods, and also risk the lives of the people who turned out in response to these fires.”
Mr Elmer said that deliberately lighting a fire was “as senseless as it gets”.
“We will investigate it thoroughly, and we’ll have investigators who will conduct inquiries in relation to the matter, and where we can, we’ll bring those people responsible before the courts.”
Anyone with information about the fires is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Meanwhile Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Brooke Oakley said Thursday was the most significant fire weather day for the last two summers.
“We have continued to see fresh and gusty west to south-westerly winds. These winds are expected to ease tonight (Friday), and there’ll be settled weather for the weekend,” Ms Oakley said.
“It was hot and windy across Tasmania [on Thursday], with several sites soaring above 30 degrees.
“The hottest temperatures were in the southeast of the state, topped by 37 degrees at Cape Bruny.”
“Today [Friday], the maximum temperatures have been significantly cooler, generally in the low teens to early 20s, which is 10 to 15 degrees colder than yesterday.”
Criminal investigation for Central Highlands bushfire
February 23, 11:30am
Firefighters are still battling a bushfire, burning out of control in the Central Highlands, as a criminal investigation is launched into the cause of the blaze.
A Watch and Act warning is in place for Dee, Bradys Lake, Tarraleah and surrounds, after five fires were sparked in the areas on Thursday.
Two of the fires, at Bradys Lake and at Snake Tier, have been referred to Tasmania Police and are the possibility of criminal activity is being investigated.
Tasmania Fire Service deputy chief officer Matt Lowe said crews were working to protect assets.
“Firefighting continues this morning at Brady’s Lake in the Central Highlands with 10 Sustainable Timber Tasmania, 8 Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Services and 9 TFS ground crews supported by 12 aircraft actively working to contain the fire,” he said.
Meanwhile Tasmania Fire Service has strike teams ready for actions in several key positions across the state, because of the high fire danger.
“While temperatures have dropped and the wind has eased, high fire danger ratings remain in place across much of the state,” Mr Lowe said.
“The Total Fire Ban in Southern Tasmania is still in place, and at this stage will continue until 2am on Saturday.”
An evacuation centre is available at New Norfolk for those who have been forced to evacuate.
So far there are around 80 people from Ouse and Gretna who are at the centre.
Road closures are still in place, and motorists are urged to avoid the area.
A community meeting with TFS representatives will be held at Ouse at 12 noon today, so community members can get an update on the fire situation.
Fire crews are also at Crabtree in the Huon Valley, monitoring a bushfire, which was downgraded to Advice level last night.
Uncontrollable bushfire at Dee puts nearby towns at high risk
February 22
4.40pm: An uncontrollable bushfire at Dee could threaten nearby towns.
A Bushfire Watch and Act message is active for Dee Lagoon, Nine Mile Marsh, Victoria Valley, Mud Hills, Osterley, Lower Tier, Little Blue Hill and Hill of Blazes.
The fire at Dee could put those towns at high risk imminently.
The fire is travelling towards Victoria Valley.
Ember, smoke and ash from this fire may fall and threaten lives and homes before the main fire arrives.
People who don’t live in the area have been warned to stay away as the roads could be very dangerous.
Meanwhile, Strickland and surrounds is also being urged to monitor conditions of a bushfire in the area.
Authorities say its posing no immediate threat however conditions are expected to be changeable.
3pm: An uncontrollable bushfire is heading towards Dee Community and surrounds.
Authorities say the blaze is expected to put lives in danger and may destroy homes as early as 3.30pm.
Conditions are expected to be uncontrollable and unpredictable.
The fire is travelling towards Dee Lagoon.
There is expected to be thick smoke, and showers of embers, which may cause fires all around you. Fires will move quickly and may come from many directions.
Tasmania Fire Service is attending.
2.40pm: An advice warning is still in place at Crabtree with the community being urged to stay informed.
The bushfire threat has been downgraded from an earlier advice to prepare to leave.
The fire is travelling towards Crouchs Hill with Tasmania Fire Service attending.
Conditions are expected to get worse.
1.52pm: While a fire threat has Crabtree on high alert, the bushfire at the Central Highlands continues to burn.
A smoke alert has been issued for Lyell Hwy, Lake Binney to Tarraleah.
People are being urged to avoid smoke.
Smoke, ash and embers from this fire are visible from the highway.
Around midday, police closed roads at Brady’s Lake at Portal Rd between Lyell Hwy and Victoria Valley Rd.
1.07pm: A bushfire alert has quickly been escalated to prepare to leave in the state’s south.
A fire is expected to impact Franklins Rd, Crabtree and surrounds now.
The fire is travelling towards Crabtree and it’s expected to be difficult to control, authorities say.
Embers, smoke and ash may fall in the area.
1pm: A fire travelling towards Crabtree Rd, Grove in the state’s south posses no immediate threat, TasAlert says.
A bushfire advice message has been triggered for Crabtree Rd, Grove for the community to stay informed.
Fire fighters are attending with conditions expected to get worse.
12pm: A bushfire is heading towards the Dee, Bradys Lake, Tarraleah and surrounds.
The warning for those in the area has been raised to a watch and act message urging people to prepare to leave.
Tasmania Fire Service says the blaze may impact the area by 4pm.
“The fire is expected to be difficult to control,” they said.
Tasmania Fire Service, Sustainable Timber Tasmania and Parks and Wildlife Service is attending.
Initial: Tasmanian firefighters are already patrolling blazes in the central highlands with extreme weather conditions sweeping in.
A number of alerts are active across the state, with the most serious so far at Lyell Hwy at Lake Binney, Mentmore Tier at Dee and Snake Tier at Tarraleah.
There is no immediate threat from any of these blazes, but conditions are expected to be changeable.
There are more than a dozen fire incidents being patrolled by fire crews.
While the danger is being taken seriously by the City of Hobart council, with all bushland reserves closed for the day.
The closures cover Wellington Park, including kunanyi/Mt Wellington, Knocklofty, Waterworks, Bicentennial reserves, Ridgeway Park and the Queens Domain.
The council says the decision was to ensure public safety during days of extreme fire danger ratings.
“Walking and mountain bike tracks as well as barbecues in the City’s parks and bushland reserves will all be closed until the extreme fire danger rating has been lifted,” the council said.
It is expected these areas will reopen on Friday morning.
Tasmania Fire Service has initiated its Hot Day Response across the state and a total fire ban for Southern Tasmania after hot weather, dry and windy conditions are forecast to create an extreme fire danger.
The total fire ban is now in effect and will go until 2am on Saturday.
The ban includes lighting any of the following in the open: incinerators, burn-offs, campfires, fire pots, and wood-fuelled barbecues.
The total fire ban applies to the municipalities of Brighton, Central Highlands, Clarence, Derwent Valley, Glamorgan Spring Bay, Glenorchy, Hobart, Huon Valley, Kingborough, Sorell, Southern Midlands, and Tasman.
TFS deputy chief officer Matt Lowe said strike teams were positioned at New Norfolk and Sorell to quickly respond to any potential fire incidents in the Upper Derwent Valley, Midlands, South East and East Coast regions.
“Our statewide Hot Day Response doubles the initial brigade response to any fires that do occur, and our aerial firefighting fleet remains on hand ready to respond and support ground crews across Tasmania,” Mr Lowe said.
“Late yesterday afternoon, five fires were reported in the Brady’s Lake area. TFS responded with aircraft and firefighting crews undertaking fire suppression late into the night. Three fires are currently at advice level and TFS will be reassessing this morning.”
Mr Lowe urged the community to prepare and remain vigilant for any smoke or fires.
“If you do see a fire or smoke in the area today, report it straight away,” he said.
“We need everyone to play their part and continue to be as prepared as possible.
“Your home is more likely to survive a bushfire if you have prepared it properly.
“Don’t wait until it’s too late, prepare now and make sure you have a bushfire plan in place.”
Originally published as Tasmanian bushfires: Central Highland communities have been urged to take action now
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