Geeveston volunteer firefighters say they are prepared for the worst as severe weather conditions forecast for Friday
UPDATED 4.30PM: Residents living south of Huonville have been told the uncontrolled bushfire near the Tahune Airwalk could put communities and roads at “severe risk” early tomorrow.
Tasmania
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UPDATED: 4.30PM: Residents living south of Huonville have been told the uncontrolled bushfire near the Tahune Airwalk could put communities and roads at “severe risk” early tomorrow.
A watch and act alert has been released in anticipation of tomorrow’s extreme weather.
“This fire may put communities and roads in the areas South of Huonville in the Huon Valley including, but not limited to Port Huon, Geeveston, Glendevie and Dover at severe risk beginning early tomorrow,” it reads.
“Fire under these conditions will be uncontrollable. Burning embers falling on areas South of Huonville may threaten your home before the main fire.
“Tasmania Fire Service and Tasmania Police urges the public to cancel any non-essential travel into the Huon Valley area south of Huonville. Smoke and ash will make it difficult to see and breathe.”
People are being urged to start taking action now to protect their family and their home.
Those who are not prepared for a bushfire or are unsure have been told “relocating now for a safer place is the best option”.
There is an evacuation centre at Huon Valley PCYC on Wilmot Road.
UPDATED 4PM: An emergency warning has been issued for Waddamana, Hilltop, Penstock Lagoon and Shannon as the Great Pine Tier bushfire continues to spread.
The warning says the blaze is approaching and will put the townships at “very high risk” this afternoon.
“This fire will be uncontrollable. Smoke and ash will make it difficult to see and breathe,” it reads.
“If your family has made a bushfire survival plan, use it now.”
The highest alert level warns burning embers will threaten homes before the main fire.
“If your home is well prepared for very high risk fires and you can actively defend it, it should provide shelter,” it says.
“If your home is unprepared go to a safer location now only if the path is clear.”
There is an evacuation centre at Bothwell Town Hall.
UPDATED 2:05PM: Mount Field National Park, Hastings Caves and Thermal Pool and Wellington Park will be closed due to tomorrow’s forecast fire weather, Premier Will Hodgman said today.
The Mount Wellington Park Management Trust will close the Pinnacle Road from 10pm tonight.
“Our firefighters are working hard to keep the community safe, and we can help make their jobs easier by heeding warnings and acting on advice from our emergency services,” Mr Hodgman said.
“Those planning or considering visits to our Parks in coming days need to ensure they have checked the Parks for updated information — www.parks.tas.gov.au.
“The Government’s priority is community and visitor safety and the entire community has a role to play.
“If you see a fire report it immediately to triple-0.”
UPDATED, 1.30pm: The fire weather in Tasmania tomorrow will be almost without precedent, Tasmania Fire Service regional chief officer Jeff Harper says.
“On a whole across, the whole part of the state, I haven’t seen conditions at this level,” he told reporters today.
“The temperatures we are expecting are in the mid to high 30s and we have it expecting 40km hour winds throughout the day with wind gusts up to 90 kilometres an hour.
“Tasmania Fire Service and our partners are continuing with our strategies or pre deploying resources into high-risk areas and preparing them so we can hit any new starts early with enough weight of attack so we can contain those and hopefully not have them run throughout the day.”
Officer Harper said the weather conditions may make it impossible to use firefighting aircraft.
“The weather tomorrow may see that our aerial assets that have been so vital to us over the last week or so not able to fly the wind conditions are so turbulent that rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft it’s not safe for them to fly under those conditions.
“So the community may see less of an aerial impact but we were backing that up with more ground based crews to be able to get there.”
A watch and act alert was issued at lunchtime today for Lynch Hill, Pieman Rd, and Reece Dam to the West in the Tasmania’s North-West.
The 93ha bushfire at Lynch Hill was first reported on January 15, but may put the three locations at high risk now, the warning said.
Road closures from the west are at the Heemskirk Rd and Corinna Rd intersection, and from the east at the Murchison Highway and Pieman Rd intersection.
Seven other watch and act alerts remained in place in the Central Plateau this afternoon.
Police Minister Michael Ferguson urged people to take all possible precautions to ensure their own safety.
“These fires are still going to take a lot of work and not just days but probably weeks to control and extinguish,” he said.
“We just want to really strongly encouraged Tasmania to look at the information that’s publicly available inform yourselves so that you can take responsibility for yourself and for your family and not put other people at risk and don’t cut corners.
“I’m very impressed with what I’m seeing and we’re very grateful for the work that’s underway. We’re very grateful for the combined efforts. We’re grateful to our volunteers and we’re grateful for interstate and New Zealand colleagues who have joined the fight.”
12.50pm: SMOKE from bushfires is expected to linger over Tasmania today as temperatures rise to the low 30s in parts of the fire-ravaged state.
Forecast high temperatures and windy conditions are expected to add to the dozens of fires already burning across Tasmania.
About 55,000ha of wilderness and bushland across the state has been ravaged by scores of fires, at least one of which has been burning since late December.
With conditions across the state forecast to worsen on Friday, authorities are warning there is an increasing threat to property and life.
The Bureau of Meteorology today said most areas would reach the mid to high 20s across much of Tasmania and some inland areas in the south would see temperatures in the low 30s.
“A warm night is expected overnight tonight before temperatures peak on Friday, reaching high 20s to low 30s across most of the state, and up to mid to high 30s about the Southeast and East Coast.
“A westerly change will arrive late Friday into early Saturday, which will bring cooler temperatures for the weekend.”
The bureau is forecasting strong and gusty north-westerly winds on Friday which, combined with the hot temperatures will see very high to severe fire danger in southern, central and eastern parts of Tasmania.
“Dry thunderstorms, with little to no rainfall, are possible across Tasmania during Friday,” the Bureau said.
FOR THE LATEST FIRE WARNINGS, CLICK HERE
Preparations are in full swing in the Huon Valley, south of Hobart, ahead of tomorrow’s severe fire danger.
Huon Valley Mayor Bec Enders has been briefed by emergency services this morning, while an evacuation centre and animal refuge is due to open this afternoon.
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A community information drop-in session will be held at the Geeveston school hall from 1pm today with a public meeting at 7pm.
The council has also postponed their Australia Day awards and citizenship ceremony scheduled for January 26 in Huonville.
A new date will be scheduled and advertised in coming weeks.
The entire 18-strong member Geeveston fire brigade is on standby ready to protect the town if needed.
Brigade chief Steven Franklin said they were “prepared for the worst”.
While the Tahune bushfire is still some distance away, he said it was getting closer and their main concern was ember attacks.
“We’re doing everything we can to make sure we’re prepared and make sure houses and assets are well protected,” he said.
“We’re getting all our gear ready and making sure we’re ready to go in an emergency.”
He said their main role was to save lives, followed by property protection.
The Huon Valley Council’s large animal and stock refuge at the Ranelagh showgrounds in Charlotte St is due to open at 4pm today.
The grounds are open for residents from Geeveston and surrounds only.
Stock owners will need to remain with their animals and bring tape and pickets to construct individual yards, water buckets and feed.
More information is available at the Huon Valley Council website.
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