Evacuation centres established for people affected by Miena and Tahune fires

UPDATED: Bushfire emergency warnings have been issued for Miena and Tahune, with people being told the smoke and ash from uncontrolled blazes may soon make it difficult to see and breathe. SEE THE VIDEO.

UPDATED 4PM: A bushfire emergency warning has been issued for Miena, in Tasmania’s Great Lakes district, and Tahune in southern Tasmania, with people being told the smoke and ash from uncontrolled blazes may soon make it difficult to see and breathe.

The warnings — the highest alert level issued by the Tasmania Fire Service — say the fires may put Miena and Tahune at very high risk.

Tasmania Fire Service regional chief officer Jeff Harper said the fire burning near Miena took a run this afternoon and has now breached the Ouse River.

Mr Harper said the fire was still two to three kilometres away from the Great Lake town of Miena.

“Original modelling said it would take an hour or more to get here. Therefore we’ve got a bit of time, no need to panic yet,” he said.

“The warnings have asked people to evacuate to the south to Poatina or Bothwell and that’s what we’ve started to do.

“There is a chance that it will go south of Miena and that will impact a couple of smaller communities which are much further away in Barren Tier and Shannon.”

Police and Emergency Services Minister Michael Ferguson speaking to a police officer on Marlborough Rd at Miena today. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Mr Harper said the incident management team was mapping touch points of where the first point of contact on the Miena township might be.

“Once we get that we’ll start to get crews out on the ground to go and have a look at it to triage where our access points are, what structures are in there, what condition are they in,” he said.

“We’ve got all of our air resources, we’ve even brought the large airtanker back from the southwest to also give us a hand. If patterns run like we had before, when we’ve got that level of air support we’re able to hold them.

“At the moment the westerlies [winds] are due to last for the afternoon.”

He told fire crew based at the staging area at the Miena Community Centre to standby ready for action.

The fire service warning for Miena says the fire will be difficult to control.

“Burning embers, falling on Miena will threaten your home before the main fire. Smoke and ash will make it difficult to see and breathe.

“If your home is well prepared for very high risk fires and you can actively defend it, it should provide shelter. If your home is unprepared go to a safer location now only if the path is clear.”

Personnel from the ACT Rural Fire Service head out from The Great Lakes store to the fire front near Miena. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

0People evacuating from Miena have been told to drive towards Poatina or Bothwell.

There is an evacuation centre at Bothwell Town Hall on Alexander St and a nearby safer place at Miena Community Hall.

An evacuation centre has also been set up at the Huon Valley PCYC in Wilmot St, Huonville.

The Tasmania Fire Service has warned the bushfire near Tahune will put the areas in the immediate vicinity of the Tahune Airwalk, Riveaux Rd, Arve Rd (west of Southwood Rd intersection) and Southwood Rd at very high risk this afternoon.

“The fire may be uncontrollable and fast moving,” the warning says.

“Burning embers, falling on Tahune and parts of the area surrounding may threaten your home before the main fire. There may also be smoke, ash and embers falling on other areas of the Huon Valley.

“Smoke and ash will make it difficult to see and breathe.

“If your home is well prepared for very high risk fires and you can actively defend it, it should provide shelter.

“If your home is unprepared go to a safer location now only if the path is clear.”

The TFS has also renewed a smoke alert for the Huon Valley, including Geeveston, Huonville, Judbury and surrounds.

EARLIER: With firefighting efforts ramping up in the state and smoke choking some communities, authorities have reminded drone operators of the strict rules that apply to the use of unmanned aircraft in emergency zones.

A total fire ban has been declared across the eastern half of the state tomorrow as more than 30 fires continue to burn.

The ban will apply to the Break O’Day, George Town, Northern Midlands, Dorset, Launceston, West Tamar, Flinders, Meander Valley, Brighton, Derwent Valley, Hobart, Sorell, Central Highlands, Glamorgan Spring Bay, Huon Valley, Southern Midlands, Clarence, Glenorchy, Kingborough and Tasman municipalities.

No fires can be lit or remain alight in the open air from 2am tomorrow through to 2am on Wednesday.

Plumes of smoke continue to billow over the Central Highlands town of Miena today as still conditions aid firefighting efforts.

People in Miena, Lake Fergus, Little Pine River, Little Pine Lagoon, O’Dells Lake, Lake Flora, Double Lagoon, First Lagoon and Lake Kay and the Nineteen Lagoons areas should keep up to date by listening to ABC Local Radio or look at the TFS website.

The town’s alert level was downgraded to “advice” this morning after firefighters managed to prevent the blaze jumping the Ouse River last night.

An uncontrolled bushfire in the state’s South could put Tahune and surrounds at very high risk in less than two hours.

The Tahune Airwalk has been closed, including all walking tracks around the Airwalk.

A bushfire watch and act message was issued for the area about 1.30pm today.

“There is an uncontrolled bushfire at Tahune and surrounds,” it read.

“This fire may put Tahune and surrounds at very high risk in less than two hours. There may be embers, smoke and ash falling on Tahune and surrounds and threaten your home earlier than the main fire.

“Fire under these conditions can be difficult to control.”

The message says if your home is “well prepared and actively defended”, it should provide shelter.

Those who are going to leave have been told to make sure they have a clear path to a safer place.

Other drivers have been told to “stay away” and avoid the area.

The smoke cloud from fire near Miena in the Central Highlands. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN