Firefighters ‘pushed to the limit’ if new blazes ignite
UPDATED, 9.50am: An emergency warning has been issued for the Tahune area in southern Tasmania, with authorities also warning of smoky conditions across much of the state.
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UPDATED, 9.50am: AN emergency warning has been issued for the Tahune area in southern Tasmania.
The Tasmania Fire Service warns the fire will put the Tahune Airwalk Area at high risk within two hours.
“This fire will be difficult control,” the TFS says.
“Burning embers, falling on Tahune Airwark Area will threaten your home before the main fire.
“Smoke and ash will make it difficult to see and breathe.”
Residents are warned to go to a safer location if their home is unprepared, but only if the path is clear.
It comes as up to 50 blazes driven by soaring temperatures and windy conditions are expected to break containment lines across Tasmania by the end of the week.
Warnings have been downgraded overnight for the out-of-control blazes in the central Miena township in the Great Lakes district.
Watch and act messages have been issued for Miena, Shannon and Liawenee, in the Great Pine Tier and Central Plateau areas.
Residents are being told to be on alert for embers, smoke and ash and dozens have already moved to evacuation centres.
TFS public information officer Peter Middleton told ABC Radio shortly before 9am today no properties were currently at risk in the area of the Tahune Airwalk to his knowledge.
“The area was evacuated yesterday afternoon, and everyone was moved out to Geeveston, but we need to make sure that there’s no one in the area because the fire did break containment lines yesterday and is spreading in that area,” Mr Middleton said.
“At this stage, we have an alert area only for the Tahune Airwalk, so this isn’t inclusive of Geeveston.
“Our message regarding Tahune and a number of other fires in the landscape, particularly in the South-West and the Miena fire, is that we’ve got some fairly serious fire weather today.
“We need people to be very aware, keeping an eye on the website, listing to ABC Local Radio, and being ready to enact their local bushfire survival plan where needed.”
Listen to ABC Local Radio or visit the TFS website for more information.
A major fire is still burning near Gell River, northwest of Hobart, scorching more than 20,000 hectares of wilderness since it started on December 28 with another blaze near Lake Fergus in the state’s centre.
The state is bracing for a run of hot and dry days this week, which will create damning fire weather conditions in Tasmania.
TFS Chief Officer Chris Arnol says the situation is “quite dynamic”.
“The end of the week is not looking good for us.” Total fire bans are planned across statewide on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Specialist fire personnel from interstate and New Zealand are helping tackle the scores of blazes.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts warm conditions across Tasmania this week, with rain bringing a hint of relief in the south on Wednesday, before temperatures soar again.
— with AAP
EARLIER: TASMANIA Fire Service Chief Officer Chris Arnol says firefighters will be “pushed to the limit” if new blazes are ignited as crews continue to come up against dangerous weather conditions.
A total fire ban has been declared for the North and South of the state for today before a statewide total fire ban kicks in Thursday to Sunday.
More than 50 fires statewide continued to burn or needed to be patrolled on Monday night.
Mr Arnol said the end of the week was “really not looking good” and any new fires would cause firefighters a “great deal of trouble”.
“If predictions are accurate, if we get new fires, we’ll be pushed to the limit,” he said.
“On Friday, we expect fires that we have on the ground right now will break their containment lines. It’s going to be a significantly bad day.
“A total fire ban will ensure that we are in the best position to limit new fires in the landscape.
“We understand that Tasmanians might be preparing to go camping for the Australia Day long weekend. However, we un-apologetically made this decision to protect all Tasmanians from the threat of bushfire.”
SEE OUR GALLERY ON THE FIRES HERE
Mr Arnol said it was very important all Tasmanians played a part in preparing for fires and urged people to review their bushfire plan.
“When we put a total fire ban on, we are not kidding. This is not a time for complacency, ” he said.
“We want people to take heed of those total fire bans and behave accordingly and support us.”
Temperatures today are expected to reach the mid-30s in inland areas, with westerly to north-westerly winds of 25 to 35km/h.
Bureau of Meteorology state manager Simon McCulloch said severe fire danger was forecast for the Midlands and very high fire danger for the Central North, North East, East Coast, Upper Derwent Valley, South East and Central Plateau districts.
“We’re expecting places like Campbelltown and Ross to be over 35C,” he said.
Mr McCulloch said temperatures in Tasmania had been well above average for most of January, with the Midlands average temperatures usually in the mid- to high 20s.
He said the worst of the heatwave would hit several Australian states on Friday.
“The things that really drive the Fire Danger Index are low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds,” he said.
MORE ON THE FIRES:
EVACUATIONS AS MIENA FIRE JUMPS CONTAINMENT LINE
TAHUNE AIRWALK CLOSED, 300 VISITORS EVACUATED DUE TO FIRE
“Low humidity will be a feature [today] but on Friday it will be the stronger winds that will be more of a feature.
“Friday is probably the most significant fire day that we’ve had this season. There’s certainly a risk of places in the central and eastern parts of the state pushing up into the mid-30s and above.”
Mr McCulloch said firefighters could expect some relief from the warm weather on Wednesday and during the weekend but only a couple of millimetres of rain was likely.
More than 115 interstate and New Zealand personnel have been called in to assist local crews battling bushfires in remote and rugged terrain. The state also currently has access to 25 helicopters and other aircraft.
chanel.kinniburgh@news.com.au
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