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Fire Service chief urges Tasmanians to be conscious of bushfires and not become complacent in milder conditions

The state’s top firefighter has urged Tasmanians to remain vigilant amid the rapidly changing bushfire situation, with temperatures set to soar again this week.

Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Chris Arnol gives an update on the statewide bushfire situation on Sunday, January 27. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN
Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Chris Arnol gives an update on the statewide bushfire situation on Sunday, January 27. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

THE state’s top firefighter has urged Tasmanians to remain vigilant amid the rapidly changing bushfire situation, with temperatures set to soar again this week.

In an update on the fire situation yesterday afternoon, Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Chris Arnol urged people to be conscious of bushfires and not become complacent in milder conditions.

“Although conditions are milder today, over 1000 kilometres of uncontained fire edge remains burning across the state,” Chief Officer Arnol said.

“With more challenging fire behaviour predicted towards the middle of this week, and another 5-6 weeks to go this bushfire season, it’s not the time to become complacent.

“Bushfire warnings are changing status regularly, I urge Tasmanian again not to become complacent, it’s a moving feast, it is dynamic, we need to be ever aware of what’s going on around us.”

Around 370 firefighters and 31 aircraft are today fighting 72 fires, with 49 actively burning.

TASMANIA FIRE SERVICE LATEST UPDATES

In other bushfire-related developments:

OF the most concern at the moment are the Riveaux Rd and Great Pine Tier bushfires listed at Emergency Warning;

AN additional air tanker was brought in from Victoria to slow the progress of the Riveaux Rd fire in the Tahune area;

WINDS were pushing fires across the state in a south-easterly direction;

THE fire service is confident it has successfully protected energy infrastructure in the Central Highlands with the Great Pine Tier fire having passed through Waddamana;

THERE is the potential for further total fire bans with very hot weather expected this week;

THE Parks and Wildlife Service called Tasmania Police to help remove campers who refused to leave parks and reserves;

TOTAL restrictions on fires in parks and reserves will continue indefinitely beyond total fire bans

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/fire-service-chief-urges-tasmanians-to-be-conscious-of-bushfires-and-not-become-complacent-in-milder-conditions/news-story/05d420a4f9b37e43740f271996661b33