Europe and North America on standby as Tasmanian bushfire conditions worsen
EVENING UPDATE: Raging bushfires are bearing down on townships in southeast and central Tasmania as conservationists call for greater action to protect threatened World- Heritage wilderness areas.
Tasmania
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EVENING UPDATE: Raging bushfires are bearing down on townships in southeast and central Tasmania as conservationists call for greater action to protect threatened World- Heritage wilderness areas.
Thirteen emergency warnings were in place today for two massive blazes, with a total of 28 fires burning uncontrolled across the island state.
FOR THE LATEST FIRE WARNINGS, CLICK HERE
The Riveaux Road fire, southwest of Hobart, is threatening several communities in the Huon Valley and sending smoke across the state capital.
“In the Huon Valley we now have fires entering the urban interface,” Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Chris Arnol said.
“Theses fires have the potential to throw embers up to one kilometre ahead. Crews are actively fighting fires and protecting properties and patrolling the high-risk areas for spot fires.”
A weeks-long effort to protect a century-old trapper’s hut in the state’s southwest, known as Churchill’s Hut, failed today.
More than 500 firefighters are battling the blazes that have collectively burned through about 173,000ha.
The TFS has warned more properties are likely to be lost after three properties near Glen Huon were destroyed on Monday.
Communities in the state’s Central Plateau remain at risk from the Great Pine Tier fire.
A cool change is expected to cross Tasmania overnight with winds that could put more towns in line of the fires.
While preserving life and property remains the focus of crews, the Wilderness Society says not enough is being done to protect remote alpine flora including thousand-year-old King Billy pines in the state’s Southwest World Heritage area. It has called on the federal and state governments to request water bombers from overseas.
But TFS district officer Andrew McGuinness says troops on the ground are what is needed.
“We’ve got 38 aircraft operating in the state at the moment. The more aircraft you bring into the state doesn’t necessarily lead to extinguishing fires,” he said.
“We need to be able to deploy remote area firefighters into these areas. We need Mother Nature to give us some rain too.”
A surveillance flight has surveyed sections of rare wilderness.
“The fire is travelling fast through button grass, but when it hits the wetter forest it’s slowing down substantially,” Parks and Wildlife deputy secretary Jason Jacobi said.
“We have some confidence that the sensitive alpine communities ... are OK. But it’s an evolving situation.”
Away form the fire front, police charged four men over a burnt stolen ute that sparked a large blaze at Clarendon Vale on Hobart’s Eastern Shore. Five helicopters and several ground crews were needed to put the blaze out on Monday.
Ten suspected deliberately-lit fires at Blessington, east of Launceston, are also being investigated, plus another at Murdunna near Port Arthur.
Premier Will Hodgman today visited Huonville, where hundreds of people have spent days at an evacuation centre.
He announced a second round of emergency grants of up to $1000 per family for those forced to flee their homes.
— ETHAN JAMES, AAP
UPDATED 4PM: Heavy spot fires have started appearing towards Dover about 5km south of Arve Rd.
Aircraft spent this morning tidying up break-outs near Hopetoun Rd, while Tasmania Fire Service remote area teams put in a back burn on Donnelleys Rd about 5km north of Geeveston.
Near Geeveston #tasfires pic.twitter.com/LRbPsFUY74
— Shannon Wells (@shannon_wells) January 30, 2019
Near federation peak #tasfires pic.twitter.com/45ugowxpuZ
— Shannon Wells (@shannon_wells) January 30, 2019
Divisional commander Michael Goldsmith told firefighters at 2pm that fire activity would increase substantially from now on.
He said spot fires had been located 2km from Glendevie.
About 50 firefighters are based out of Geeveston fire station today.
Still conditions earlier today aided crews to put in containment lines and clear under power lines north of Geeveston.
Mercury photographer Richard Jupe’s photos show the back burn firefighters managed to navigate around a house on Donnelleys Rd.
Meanwhile, the Arthur Highway has reopened to traffic after an earlier closure because of bushfire activity at Murdunna.
UPDATED 2.45PM: POLICE have closed the Arthur Hwy between Dunalley and Eaglehawk Neck to all traffic due to bushfire activity at Jimmy’s Hill, Murdunna.
There is no immediate threat to the Eaglehawk Neck community but a road closure is in place at the Dunalley Bridge and another at Eaglehawk Neck on the northern side of Pirates Bay Drive until further notice.
A Bushfire Watch and Act message has been issued for Murdunna.
Meanwhile, less than a kilometre from the Huon Valley fire front, Judbury artist Anton Holzner needs a truck — and fast.
As an out of control bushfire burns not far up Bermuda Rd, the 83-year-old and three friends are preparing to defend his home from the flames, as well as dozens of the artworks he has created over the decades.
“I need a van, a big van,” Mr Holzner said. “If I can get a van we can put 40 or 50 in and get away. It is all I can think of.” Read the full story.
.@TasFireService Bushfire Advice Message For Eaglehawk Neck. There is a bushfire at Jimmys Hill, Murdunna. There is no immediate threat to the Eaglehawk Neck community however the Arthur Highway at Murdunna may be impacted this afternoon. https://t.co/7jB0YTyb7o #Tasfires
— TasALERT (@tasalert) 30 January 2019
UPDATED 1PM: Another outbuilding has been significantly damaged on Kermandie River Rd south of Geeveston in the Huon Valley.
The house at the same property has so far been spared.
Around the state at 1pm there were 12 fires at Emergency Warning level, eight at Watch and Act level and 14 Advice alerts.
FOR THE LATEST FIRE INFORMATION, VISIT THE TFS WEBSITE
FOR THE LATEST ROAD CLOSURES, VISIT THE POLICE WEBSITE
UPDATED 10.30am: Fire crews in Geeveston are bracing for conditions to escalate from this afternoon.
About 25 firefighters were told during a briefing this morning to expect northwesterly winds to increase which would continue to push the out-of-control bushfire towards Castle Forbes Bay, Port Huon and Geeveston.
Temperatures are also expected to hit 29C in the Huon Valley today.
Divisional commander Michael Goldsmith said firefighters would continue their work to protect assets, lives and homes in the area of Donnelleys and Fourfoot roads.
He said crews will also extend their patrols south around Surges Bay, Waterloo, and Glendevie, as the winds threaten to push the southern edge towards Dover.
He warned crews they could potentially get cut off south of Castle Forbes Bay if the fire reaches the Huon River.
Thick smoke continues to blanket southern Huon Valley communities.
The fire service has been unable to “get eyes in the sky” to see where the fire front is.
MORE:
AIRWALK TO BE ‘CLOSED FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD’
SAFE HAVEN AS NIGHTMARE CONDITIONS CONTINUE
UPDATED 9.30am: The Huon Highway road closure has been moved south from the Huon Bridge at Huonville to Franklin as bushfires continue to threaten in the area.
In a brief statement this morning, police said the highway road closure had been moved to Old Rd, Franklin.
The Huon Highway is now closed to all southbound motorists, including residents, from Old Rd to Crowthers Rd at Castle Forbes Bay.
At this stage, northbound travel is still allowed for people wishing to leave the area.
UPDATED 8am: Tasmanians are being asked to avoid non-essential water use during total fire ban days and while bushfires are threatening communities across the state.
The call comes as 12 bushfire emergency warnings remain in place in Tasmania this morning, mostly in the Huon Valley, and as the state prepares to welcome 60 additional interstate firefighters today.
There is a total fire ban in the south of the state as well as in the Northern Midlands and the Break O’Day municipalities today.
TasWater’s Mark McConnon said fire conditions are expected to continue over the week, and it is critical water is available for the Tasmania Fire Service and residents defending their homes from fire.
“Our systems are working at full capacity but people on a reticulated supply really need to reassess how they are using water,” Mr McConnon said.
“We understand people want to protect their properties but we would encourage everyone to make sure they use water efficiently and do not exceed what is identified in their personal bushfire plan.
MORE:
AIRWALK TO BE ‘CLOSED FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD’
SAFE HAVEN AS NIGHTMARE CONDITIONS CONTINUE
The TFS advises property owners to consider alternative water sources, as mains water may not be available at times of fire.
“Our treatment plants and pipelines are also at risk in areas of fire activity and while we do everything we can to prepare for such emergencies, we cannot guarantee our facilities will not be affected,” Mr McConnon said.
Anyone evacuating their homes should turn off taps or hoses before leaving to ensure water is available to firefighters and neighbours protecting homes.
Tasmanians are encouraged to reduce their water use on total fire ban days by:
— Turning off all sprinkler systems, including automatic sprinkler systems.
— Where possible, restricting hose use to essential purposes such as firefighting or prevention.
— Rescheduling chores that require water, such as watering plants, washing windows or vehicles, to a day that isn’t a total fire ban.
UPDATED 7am: Emergency warnings remain in place for Judbury, Franklin, Glen Huon, Lonnavale, north of Geeveston, the Castle Forbes Bay area, Geeveston, Port Huon, and Cairns Bay, Bermuda Rd south of Judbury, and Waterloo, Surges Bay Brooks Bay, Glendevie and Police Point.
There are also emergency warnings for Bashan Plains and Gathering Hill, Jean Banks Rd between Waddamana and Hermitage, and the eastern side of Highland Lakes Rd between Interlaken Rd and Weasel Plains Rd on the Central Plateau.
There are also seven watch and act alerts, and 14 advice alerts around the state
There is a total fire ban in the south of the state as well as in the Northern Midlands and the Break O’Day municipalities today.
For more information, visit the TFS website or listen to ABC local radio.
EARLIER:
TASMANIA could look to North America and Europe for reinforcements if the bushfires burning throughout the state are not brought under control soon.
Sixty additional interstate firefighters will on Wednesday join the 400 personnel battling four major bushfires in the Huon Valley, on the Central Plateau, at Gell River and near Zeehan as Glen Huon residents deal with the loss of three homes in their area overnight Monday.
Premier Will Hodgman and the Tasmania Fire Service today extended their condolences to the residents of those homes, which were described as “undefendable”.
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Conditions are forecast to worsen on Wednesday and Thursday as fire chiefs warns of fatigue among the service’s staff and the potential for further property losses.
People living in the Huon Valley and near the Central Plateau have been asked to remain vigilant about dangerous weather conditions.
District officer Andrew McGuinness said he doubted whether the fires burning throughout Tasmania could be brought under control without a good downpour.
“If we don’t get substantial rain in the next month maybe, these fires will simply get bigger and bigger and bigger,” Mr McGuinness said.
“One would suggest that if these fires go for the next six weeks, eight weeks, then we’ll certainly have to tap into North America and potentially Europe to get some degree of expertise here to assist us.
“The challenge is probably more remote area firefighters — because it’s such a specialist field, sustaining remote area firefighters in the foreseeable future is going to be really challenging.”
FOR THE LATEST FIRE INFORMATION, VISIT THE TFS WEBSITE
FOR THE LATEST ROAD CLOSURES, VISIT THE TAS POLICE WEBSITE
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that Wednesday looks set to bring very high fire danger in areas of southern and eastern Tasmania.
Temperatures will be hot with strong, gusty winds likely in the afternoon.
“The highest temperatures [today] are probably likely to be in the South-East, probably around the Campania area of around 35, Hobart’s expected to be around 32, the Huon Valley there’ll be some locally severe fire danger in that area and temperatures in Huonville probably around 31, 32,” bureau acting state manager Simon McCulloch said.
The Parks and Wildlife Service has closed Mount Field National Park and Douglas Apsley National Park until Thursday.
General manager Jason Jacobi said Parks was also concerned about alpine vegetation at Mount Field and Mount Bobs in the South-West National Park, including King Billy pine, Huon pine and cushion plant communities.
“We’ve tried to get aerial craft into there today to understand exactly what the fire is doing but cloud and smoke prevented us from being able to get the intelligence we need,” Mr Jacobi said.
“We have plans in place for retardant drops at Mount Field and Mount Bobs, but they are reliant on the availability of large aerial tankers and that is proving to be a challenge at the moment with many of the priorities on life and property protection but also for protection of natural and cultural values.”
Mr Hodgman, also Parks and Heritage Minister, said: “Any loss to Tasmania, whether it be in properties owned by Tasmanians, their homes, or indeed other properties of commercial enterprises, the loss of them through fire is distressing, but as is the impact in our natural and wilderness areas.”
Mr Hodgman implored people to listen to emergency warnings from police and firefighters.
“The risk is very real and could even get worse than it has to date,” he said.
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