Tasmania bushfire updates: multiple warnings downgraded after firefighters ‘catch a break’

Firefighters on the West Coast have welcomed easing weather conditions as the raging bushfires sweep through more than 93,000ha of bush. The latest warnings >>

Follow for The Mercury’s rolling updates of the February bushfires.

12.30pm: Easing conditions have assisted firefighting efforts on Tasmania’s West Coast, authorities say.

Crews from Tasmania Fire Service, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife and Sustainable Timbers Tasmania continue to respond to the complex fires in the region.

State Fire Commander Matt Lowe said encouragingly, bushfire conditions had moderated again overnight.

North West strike team at Zeehan on February 13th. Picture: North Motton Fire Brigade

The relief has resulted in the downgrading of multiple warnings yesterday and overnight, including at Corinna, which is now at watch and act however it is still not safe to return.

He confirmed the multiple fires on the West Coast had torn though a combined 93,000ha.

Aircraft continue to assess the damage, however Mr Lowe said low cloud coverage was impacting operations in some areas today.

Operations officer Brodie Frost said protecting the community, key infrastructure and areas of high natural value remains the main priority.

“We were able to catch a break yesterday due to easing weather conditions,” Mr Frost said.

The fires at Yellowband Plains, Pieman River, Mt Donaldson and Canning Peak remain the top concern for firefighters.

Mr Lowe said more than 100 personnel were assisting the firefighting efforts, including crew from New Zealand, Queensland and New South Wales.

Two community meetings are scheduled for 1pm on Sunday at Zeehan and Arthur River.

The evacuation centre at Queenstown Sports Stadium remains open.

Mr Lowe said PWS were still hopeful the Overland Track would reopen as scheduled on February 24.

“Remedial works are due to commence as early as Monday, weather and fire conditions permitting,” he said.

Incident controller Nic Deka said: “Rapid impact assessments for areas of high natural value will be undertaken at the earliest opportunity.”

10.50am: Firefighters have so far protected infrastructure at Granville Harbour Wind Farm while a bushfire continues to burn north of the wind farm.

The blaze has been burning for several days near the facility consisting of 31 turbines with a generating capacity of 111.6 megawatts.

In a statement from Granville Harbour, firefighters and the landowner were thanked for their substantial efforts to contain the blaze to the north-west boundary.

“There has been no reported damage to any wind farm assets and no reported injuries,” the statement said.

The wind farm will remain offline until it can be safely accessed and transmission lines are able to be re-energised, they say.

They confirmed the situation would continue to be monitored and were working with emergency services and the local community “as best we can”.

10.30am: The emergency warning at Corinna has been downgraded to watch and act.

It remains not safe for people to return and conditions are being closely monitored as they are changing.

February 15, 9am: Multiple alerts remain in place across Tasmania’s West Coast.

An emergency warning remains in place for Corinna.

Watch and act alerts to monitor conditions as they are changing are in place for: Renison Bell, Pieman Heads, Conical Rocks, Sandy Cape, Granville Harbour, Zeehan and Reece Dam.

While Savage River is being warned of ember attacks.

Remote area firefighting at Canning Peak. Bushfires are affecting the West Coast area of Tasmania. Picture: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service

Advice warnings to remain informed remains in place for Tikkawoppa Plateau to Duck Creek, Rosebery, the Overland Track and Arthur Pieman Conservation Area.

Away from the West Coast, an alert was also issued for Deal Island, that lies near Flinders Island.

A warning to monitor conditions for Squally Cove and surrounds. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Services are attending.

Midday: Calmer conditions have assisted firefighters and downgraded the risk to West Coast communities — however, four battlegrounds remain a concern.

In an update provided by Tasmania Fire Service, the response to the complex fires on the state’s west coast continues.

State Fire Commander Jeremy Smith said Yellowband Plain — that is threatening Zeehan, Pieman River, Mt Donaldson and Canning Peak fires are the main concern today.

“Encouragingly, bushfire conditions have moderated overnight, however we advise residents and members of the public to remain alert and keep up to date with the latest emergency information through TasALERT,” he said.

“We have been dealing with very dynamic conditions on the fireground due to strong winds and high fire dangers and we encourage all members of the public, especially those in the affected areas, to keep up to date with the latest emergency information.”

Zeehan late on February 12th with bushfires closing in on the town. Picture: Alan Jennison

Tasmania’s fire service, parks and wildlife services and sustainable timber crews are being assisted by personnel from New Zealand, Queensland, New South Wales and the national resource sharing centre, providing air operations, interstate liaison and firefighting operations.

While multiple warnings were downgraded from emergency to watch and act in the state’s north-west last night, Mr Smith urged the public to remain vigilant.

An emergency warning remains for Corrina and surrounds.

It is now safe for Zeehan residents to return, however conditions are changing.

The evacuation centre at Queenstown Sports Stadium remains open.

Smoke is impacting large amounts of the state also due to the changing wind direction this morning.

11.30am: The latest advice for Zeehan residents is that they can return safely, however the threat isn’t over.

TFS warns people to monitor conditions as they were changing.

The town is being threatened by the uncontrollable blaze at Yellowband Plain, which is expected to put Zeehan and surrounds at high risk today.

Ember, smoke and ash may fall and threaten the community before the main fire arrives.

10am: A bushfire burning north of the wind farm at Granville Harbour is getting closer to the town.

A new watch and act alert is urging residents to prepare to take shelter as the blaze is heading south.

Firefighters are attending the blaze.

February 14, 8am: West Coast bushfire smoke has spread down to Southern Tasmania — with a smoke alert issued, while the community of Zeehan is unable to return home after blazes swept through.

The smoke visible from Hobart is due to the multiple blazes in the west.

People at higher risk from the effects of smoke have been told to put into action their personal plan for avoiding smoke.

And drivers are being asked to turn on headlights and slow down if travelling through smoke.

A smoke alert has also been issued for the Midlands and Northern Tasmania on Friday morning.

A social media post showing smoke from a bushfire on the outskirts of Zeehan.

Granville Harbour — People are being urged to leave the area by 10am if they are not prepared with a fire expected to reach the town.

There is an uncontrollable bushfire north of the wind farm that is travelling south.

The road out is only passable by cars and 4WD as no larger vehicles will get through.

An evacuation centre is set up at Queenstown Sports Stadium.

Zeehan — It remains unsafe for residents to return after a bushfire threatened the town yesterday evening.

The Yellowband Plain bushfire threatened the area overnight.

The latest update warns to monitor conditions as they are changing.

Those who are able, can evacuate also at Queenstown Sports Stadium.

Corinna — An emergency warning remains in place with a fire travelling towards Corinna.

Fire getting closer to Zeehan, more alerts for West Coast

3.40pm: Zeehan is bracing for a bushfire at Yellowband Plain to strike the West Coast town.

It’s estimated the fire will put the town in danger in the next three to four hours.

A Watch and Act message has been issued with residents warned to prepare to leave.

A multi-agency fire crew is attending the fire, however conditions are expected to change.

The alert said Queenstown is a safe place for people to travel to but have warned to only do so if it’s safe.

An alert has also been issued for Trial Harbour and surrounds with a bushfire at Pieman Heads travelling towards the area now. People are being urged to stay near shelter.

Granville Harbour is also being urged to take shelter now, while Corinna’s warning has escalated once again to an emergency.

The raging blazes have also billowed smoke into the region with smoke alerts current for the West Coast hubs of Queenstown and Strahan.

No damage so far to fire-hit West Coast shack community

1pm: Work to protect shack communities from raging bushfires is working, those on the ground say.

Bushfires continue to rage on the West Coast after more than a dozen were lit when dry lightening struck last week.

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service incident controller Nic Deka said there had been no reports of damage to built assets at Pieman Heads or Sandy Cape — despite high fire danger conditions continuing to present challenges.

“This morning, fires were expected to approach within 900m of the shack community at Pieman Heads, however recent fuel reduction burns appear to have reduced the risk to these properties,” Mr Deka said.

The emergency warning for Pieman Heads was downgraded this morning, but one still remains for Sandy Cape to take shelter now.

He said they would inspect the damage once weather conditions permit.

State Fire commander Jeremy Smith said 26 remote area firefighters were on the way to assist with the fire response — 20 from NSW and six from the ACT — along with two helicopters that have winch capabilities.

Two personnel have also been supplied from Queensland, he confirmed.

He said the NSW firefighters would set up a basecamp at Tullah that could facilitate up to 100 personnel.

Overland Track hut destroyed by bushfire

February 13, 9am: A bushfire raging at parts of the Overland Track has destroyed the Pine Forest Moor Hut, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Services confirm.

PWS liaison officer Brendon Clark confirmed aerial images showed the hut had been destroyed.

“While this outcome is not what we had hoped for, it reiterates that we are in a dynamic and challenging situation with these fires,” Mr Clark said.

The Overland Track was first closed last Wednesday when bushfire got within 5km of the track and it’s not expected to open before Monday, February 24.

Aerial assessments have also been made at other fire-stricken locations, including Sandy Cape — which he said no built structures appeared to be damaged.

“Our efforts to protect high value natural and cultural assets, including sensitive alpine vegetation are at this stage looking positive, however weather conditions continue to present challenges,” he said.

Emergency warnings remain in place for Sandy Cape, Pieman Heads and surrounds to take shelter.

Watch and Act alerts are current for Granville Harbour, Corinna and Reece Dam.

Those at Granville Harbour have been urged to leave if unprepared, while Corinna is not safe to return and people have been told to avoid Reece Dam.

The latest alerts can be found online at Tasalert.

Here’s where to find what has happened so far in Tasmania’s bushfire emergency.

Originally published as Tasmania bushfire updates: multiple warnings downgraded after firefighters ‘catch a break’