Firefighters battle blazes at Fingal, Glenlusk, and Pelham
UPDATED: The Tasmania Fire Service has revealed the cause of the fire that threatened Glenlusk and Collinsvale residents, while Fingal has been put at high risk over the next 4 to 6 hours.
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5.40PM: AN updated Bushfire Watch and Act message has been issued for Royal George to Nowhere Else, Fingal
It said there is a bushfire at Mount Malcolm, Fingal that may put Royal George to Nowhere Else, Fingal at high risk within 4 to 6 hours.
The fire will be difficult to control.
There may be embers, smoke and ash falling on Royal George to Nowhere Else, Fingal.
5PM: The Tasmania Fire Service has revealed the cause of the fire that threatened Glenlusk and Collinsvale residents yesterday.
The Glenlusk fire was deemed to be accidental and was caused by hot coals from a firepot being discarded in the bush.
The TFS has also asked people travelling to the East Coast this weekend to be mindful of the potential for smoke and delays on the Esk Main Road and to take an alternate route.
There will be a lot of visitors to the East Coast this weekend and they must remain aware of their surroundings.
2PM: Glenlusk and Collinsvale residents have praised the Tasmania Fire Service for saving their homes after a bushfire burned out of control in the rural area on Thursday.
Dozens of ground crews and numerous waterbombing aircraft worked on the blaze, which prompted an emergency warning with residents asked to evacuate.
Fire came within metres of Steve and Susan Dransfield’s home on Collinsvale Rd, Collinsvale.
Mr Dransfield stayed to defend his home as the bushfire raged.
“We were very lucky,’’ he said.
“It got right to the corner [of the property].
“If the firyes hadn’t got here as quick as they did, my little piss-ant hose wouldn’t have done anything.”
Meanwhile, Steven Ransley was relieved the property owned by his late father was unscathed.
Mr Ransley and other family members watched nervously on Thursday as smoke billowed near the home.
It would have been Rex Ransley’s 90th birthday tomorrow. He died last month.
“We just got over one tragedy, we didn’t want another one, particularly not on his birthday,’’ Mr Ransley said.
“Tas Fire Service have done an absolutely fantastic job and they need to be commended and appreciated by everyone.
“We are so happy with the outcome.”
An advice message is current for Collinsvale Rd at Glenlusk.
Meanwhile, Tasmanian volunteer firefighters will be eligible for financial support from the Australian Government for loss of income while fighting this season’s bushfires.
In a joint statement, Premier Will Hodgman and Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Mark Shelton said volunteers can apply for assistance of $300 a day, with a total cap of $6,000. The financial support is not means tested and is tax-free.
Self-employed volunteers who can demonstrate loss of income, and volunteers employed by small and medium businesses who can demonstrate loss of income, are eligible if they are deployed to respond to bushfires for more than 10 days.
The scheme will be administered by the Tasmanian Government and will be in place by the end of January 2020.
For up-to-date bushfire information, visit the Tasmania Fire Service website or listen to ABC local radio.
1PM: The Tasmania Fire Service has declared a total fire ban for northern and southern municipalities for Saturday.
The ban is in force between 2am on Saturday and 2am on Sunday, during which time it will be illegal to light or cause a fire to start in the open.
The total fire ban will be in force in the following municipalities: Brighton, Central Highlands, Clarence, Derwent Valley, Glamorgan-Spring Bay, Glenorchy, Hobart, Huon Valley, Kingborough, Sorell, Southern Midlands, Tasman, Break’O’Day, Dorset, George Town, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, West Tamar, and Flinders.
Meanwhile, volunteers from the Salvation Army will be at the Taste of Tasmania gates from noon today fundraising for Salvation Army Emergency Services teams responding to bushfires around Australia.
There will also be a dedicated fundraiser at the Taste sign today. From 4.30pm, the Taste will be accepting a minimum $5 donation in exchange for one of the plants that make up the sign.
The Taste of Tasmania is open until 10pm tonight.
12PM: Collinsvale Rd remains closed to all traffic at both ends Glenlusk Rd, with the exception of residents, after an emergency warning was issued for a bushfire at Glenlusk on the outskirts of Hobart yesterday.
In a brief statement shortly before noon, police said people wishing to gain access to the area were required to show proof of residency before being allowed through.
Any residents who do enter the area must follow the instructions of Tasmania Fire Service officers as there are vehicles and excavators on the road and trees being felled across the roadway.
Police asked motorists to drive slowly and with extreme caution.
10AM: The Tasmania Fire Service has confirmed the loss of a house and vehicle as a result of fires burning in Tasmania’s northeast.
TFS acting regional chief Ian Bounds told ABC local radio this morning a residential house and vehicle around the Tower Hill area had been lost, as five watch and act alerts remain for the fires burning in the Fingal area.
“We’ll be doing a full assessment of loss today heading into the weekend,” Mr Bounds said.
RESIDENTS WARNED TO BRACE FOR NIGHT OF DANGER
Mr Bounds said crews would be concentrating on securing the fire south of Fingal as best they can today ahead of predicted warm temperatures on Saturday.
“[Forecast weather conditions are] going to challenge a number of our containment lines and certainly the fire south of Fingal is of major concern for us,” he said.
“We’re looking at a total fire ban commencing Saturday, and more information will be provided about that as the day goes on.”
Mr Bounds said “we’re probably going to hit some very high fire danger ratings” over the weekend.
“Especially through Saturday [and] especially in the Midlands and Fingal valley and the East Coast, and that’s essentially why we’re potentially bringing the total fire ban in for those areas,” he said.
“If you’re travelling to the coast, we’re advising [people] to take alternate routes other than the Esk main road, mainly due to the additional operations that will be happening and the potential that there could be delays due to smoke across the road.
“We’re really asking people to be aware of the situation, drive to the conditions, and be aware that we have got crews and we will have a number of additional resources in those areas, so if they can just be careful as they travel around.”
Meanwhile, there are grave fears for the 17 people who were on Thursday night listed as missing in the horror East Gippsland fires.
6.30AM: Watch and act bushfire alerts remain in place in Tasmania’s northeast this morning, while fires at Glenlusk, Pelham, and the Southwest are at advice level.
MORE: FIRESTORM WAS ‘MIND-BLOWING’
Five watch and act alerts are in place for the fires first reported at Mangana Rd, Fingal. The alerts are for Mangana, the Tower Hill area, Valley Rd at Fingal, Fingal and surrounds, and Mathinna Rd, Fingal to Mathinna. An advice message is in place for Royal George Rd and Nowhere Else in relation to the same fires.
Advice messages are also in place Collinsvale Rd at Glenlusk, the Pelham, Elderslie and Broadmarsh areas, and Pearce Basin, Southwest.
For more information, visit the Tasmania Fire Service website or listen to ABC local radio.
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