Lebrina/Pipers Brook fire: TFS to set up community drop-in centre
Tasmania Fire Service will set up a community drop-in centre in the state’s northeast, with no end in sight to a fire which has so far gobbled up 1500ha of forest. LATEST UPDATES >>
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Tasmania Fire Service will set up a community drop-in centre in the state’s northeast as a fire first detected on Thursday afternoon shows no sign of abating, with a TFS incident controller declaring: “We’re going to be here a while”.
It comes after more than 1500ha of private and plantation forest in the Lebrina/Pipers Brook area was torched by the blaze, which began as a 240ha burn-off at a private property on Pipers Brook Rd which “escaped” about 3pm Thursday.
Speaking on Sunday afternoon, TFS incident controller Rick Mahnken said the fire investigator’s “preliminary” view was that the fire’s escape was accident.
Mr Mahnken said conditions on Sunday were better than expected, with temperature in the low-twenties and wind gusts not quicker than 20 km/h.
“We achieved a backburn on the fire’s northern edge,” he said.
However, Mr Mahnken warned wind gusts were expected to pick up again on Sunday night with fire conditions escalating into the evening.
Mr Mahnken said TFS would establish a community drop-in centre at the Lebrina Fire Station from noon on Monday for locals concerned about the situation to touch base with officers.
He said it was a “busy day” for TFS, with a number of smaller fires breaking out throughout the state, the largest of which was a 32ha fire at Bothwell, which was contained.
Earlier, Sunday 10am: A fire burning in Tasmania’s northeast has continued to grow as it entered its fourth day, with a new map showing the extent of the destruction which has, so far, only consumed private and plantation forests and an outbuilding.
Meanwhile, a fresh ‘Watch and Act’ warning for Pipers Brook, Lebrina, Wyena, Golconda and surrounds has been issued by Tasmania Fire Service as at 11.06am Sunday.
The fire is expected to impact this area “within the next two to six hours”, with “unpredictable gusting winds” forecast for this afternoon expected to “challenge” crews.
“The fire is travelling northwest, towards Ferny Hill Rd,” a TFS representative said.
“The fire is expected to be difficult to control.
“Embers, smoke and ash may fall on Pipers Brook, Lebrina, Wyena, Golconda and surrounds.
“Conditions are expected to be changeable.”
It comes as the map, shared by the Lilydale Fire Brigade, sheds new light on the fire’s extent.
The fire, which began life on Thursday afternoon about 3pm as 240ha burn-off that “escaped” before growing now to more than 1500ha, continues to be contained well within the boundaries of Pipers Brook, Golcunda and Ferny Hill roads, the map shows.
“We still have TFS crews from all over the north of the state working hard day and night to keep the fire contained and to protect properties in the affected areas,” the brigade said on social media.
“Air operations have continued water-bombing with rotary and fixed-wing aircraft and dozers continue containment work on the ground.
“State Emergency Service (is) assisting with staging area management and provision of meals, and police, Parks (and Wildlife) and Forestry crews are also active.
“The fire has now affected more than 1500 hectares.”
Meanwhile, a second, unrelated bushfire has been reported at Bothwell.
The TFS alert, issued about 10.30am on Sunday, is for residents in the Highland Lakes Rd and Hunterston Rd areas to stay informed.
“There is no immediate threat,” TFS said.
“Fire crews and aircraft are on scene and are working to control the fire.”
EARLIER, Saturday 5pm: Tasmania Fire Service crews continue to battle a blaze in the state’s northeast, which grew and moved westwards overnight and this morning.
The Pipers River/Lebrina fire, which has been active since Thursday afternoon about 3pm, began life as a 240ha burn-off at a private property on Pipers Brook Rd which “escaped”, TFS District Officer Gary Johnson previously stated.
On Saturday, Mr Johnson said there were “ongoing investigations” into the registered burn.
“We are still investigating what he was burning,” Mr Johnson said.
While the burn-off was “registered”, the investigation would also take in what allowances were given under the landowner’s permit, Mr Johnson said.
There is no suggestion the landowner was at fault and Mr Johnson previously said the man reported the fire promptly when it spread out of control.
Mr Johnson said that the fire had moved about 1km westward on Friday night and Saturday morning but had since stabilised.
“The winds have turned and we’re making good progress,” he said.
He said, however, the fire continued to behave “erratically”, driven by the abundance of dry fuel and the changeability of the wind.
A TFS public information officer was liaising with Wine Tasmania to help prevent smoke damage to nearby vineyards, Mr Johnson said.
A watch and act warning remains current for Lebrina, Wyena, Golconda and surrounds.
EARLIER, Friday 4.15pm: A fire burning in the island’s northeast which has so far scorched more than 1000 hectares and threatened properties, although luckily none have been consumed yet, began as an “escaped burn-off” on a private property, a Tasmania Fire Service officer has confirmed.
TFS District Officer Gary Johnson said the Lebrina fire, which was reported to emergency services about 3pm on Thursday, was initially a 240ha burn-off at a property on Pipers Brook Rd before becoming a 1200ha inferno.
“Local weather conditions were not expected to be what they were, and the fire tripled in size,” Mr Johnson said.
“There are unpredictable weather conditions, the wind got up (on Thursday afternoon) and it’s very dry.”
He said the landowner who started the permit burn reported the fire when it burnt out of control.
Mr Johnson said 24 fire crews, as well as four helicopters and four dozers, supplemented by support from Sustainable Timber Tasmania and private forestry companies, continued to battle the fire.
He said the fire was contained between Golcunda Rd in the south, Pipers Brook Rd in the west, and Ferny Hill Rd in the east.
The northern boundary, however, would be determined by the variable weather.
A north/north-easterly wind was “pushing” against the Golcunda Rd boundary at the time of publication, but this line was expected to hold firm, Mr Johnson said.
Thus far the fire had only consumed native forests, plantations and an outbuilding.
“Over the next few days we expect the fire to continue to burn within the containment lines,” Mr Johnson said.
While there were expected to be “raised danger conditions” on Sunday, Mr Johnson said crews were “not overly concerned”.
“But we are vigilant,” he added.
Mr Johnson said TFS were in regular communication with local vineyards, who had been affected by smoke.
Residents in the areas of Lebrina, Wyena, Golconda, Ferny Hill Rd and surrounds are advised to continue monitoring conditions, which are expected to be “changeable”.
“Well-prepared homes are expected to be defendable in these conditions,” TFS said.
“Monitor conditions, and if they get more dangerous, and you are not well-prepared, plan to go to a safer place.”
7:00am Friday: A bushfire burning in the state’s North East has eased overnight, with warnings downgraded from a Watch and Act to an Advice for Lebrina, Wyena, Golconda, Ferny Hill Road and surrounds.
Despite moderating conditions District Officer Rick Mahnken said the bushfire is still not under control and Tasmania Fire Service, STT and Reliance Forest Fibres remain at the scene this morning fighting the blaze which is travelling south east.
“Yesterday the fire quickly took hold travelling southeast towards Ferny Hill Road with embers spotting 300 metres ahead of the fire front,” Mr Mahnken said,
“Fire crews spent the night actively protecting assets including houses, power infrastructure, native and production forest, with the fire having burnt 281 hectares.”
Authorities are warning people to monitor conditions that are expected to change over the course of the day.
A series of forestry plantations have been damaged by the fire however no houses or buildings have been lost.
Helicopters and fixed wing aircraft will be called in to the fight the blaze again today as impact assessments and fire mapping is conducting.
What to do:
- If you have a bushfire plan, check it now.
- Well prepared homes are expected to be defendable in these conditions.
- Monitor conditions, and if they get more dangerous, and you are not well prepared, plan to go to a safer place.
- For fire updates, listen to ABC Local Radio or visit the TFS website at fire.tas.gov.au.
Earlier: 9pm Thursday
Fire crews remain at the scene of a bushfire at Lebrina overnight which has impacted a series of forestry plantations and burned through an area of 245ha.
The blaze was first reported after 3pm, and was elevated to a watch and act shortly after, leaving those at Lebrina, Wyena, Golconda and Ferny Hill Rd on high alert
“Fire crews in the area are actively protecting assets including houses and power infrastructure,” TFS District Officer Rick Mahnken said.
The blaze left vineyard owners in the state’s northeast anxious.
“I can see thick grey-brown smoke,” Co-owner of Brooke Eden vineyard Annette Ferrero said.
“There’s two helicopters and a fixed-wing small aircraft, they’re picking up water from the neighbour’s dam.
“The police are in the neighbourhood diverting traffic away from this valley and the power is off because the power lines near us are down.”
Ms Ferrero said the blaze didn’t appear to be heading in their direction, but was wary things could change.
“It’s quite windy here as well so that’s also a concern, what the wind will do to fan the flames,” Ms Ferrero said.
The vineyard owner said they were prepared to leave.
“We have animals and also have a vineyard which is not far off harvest so I’d prefer not to leave if we can stay and protect things,” she said.
They were also preparing the property in case the situation got out of hand.
“We’re blocking up the gutters and we have a firefighting tank which has been filled,” she said.
Ms Ferrero said the blaze brought back memories of a previous fire.
“It’s scary for us because have had a major fire here before, but it wasn’t a bushfire, it was a structural fire in 2016, where we lost our cellar door building,” Ms Ferrero said.
“I feel quite emotional.”
Tasmania Fire Service said the blaze was expected to be difficult to control and that embers, smoke and ash may fall on Lebrina and Wyena.
Crews mobilised several tankers, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
Just before 8pm, the bushfire had burned through 229ha of vegetation.
What to do (TFS.tas.gov.au):
- Take action now to protect yourself, your family, and your home.
- If you are not prepared for a bushfire, be ready to leave for a safer place.
- If you have made a bushfire plan, check it now.
- If you don’t live near Lebrina, stay away.
- For fire updates, listen to ABC Local Radio or visit the TFS website at fire.tas.gov.au.
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