Geeveston residents warned of immediate fire danger
UPDATE: 7PM: Three homes have been lost, and a major tourist attraction and business in southwest Tasmania damaged amid reports of looting as the state battles ongoing bushfires. NEW BARN FIRE VIDEO, SEE OUR READERS’ FIRE PICS
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UPDATE 7PM: Three homes have been lost, and a major tourist attraction and business in southwest Tasmania damaged amid reports of looting as the state battles ongoing bushfires.
Late on Tuesday the Tasmania Fire Service maintained 12 emergency warnings for two blazes, while numerous others continued to burn uncontrolled, blanketing much of the island in thick smoke.
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The Riveaux Rd fire, near Geeveston, continued to threaten numerous communities southwest of Hobart.
Chief Officer Chris Arnol confirmed that three homes in the Glen Huon area were destroyed overnight.
Mercury photographer Luke Bowden also captured dramatic footage of a barn going up in flames at Donnellys Rd in Geeveston.
“These homes were destroyed after they either came under ember attack or direct combustion by radiant heat,” Chief Officer Arnol told reporters.
“The homes that have been lost were within the warning areas in Frypan Rd and Bermuda Rd.
“Owners have been notified. We’re grateful they’re safe.
“By all reports their properties would have been undefendable.
“Their decision to leave early ... saved their lives.”
Mr Arnol said he expected “further structural losses” but was pleased most people were following advice to evacuate.
An evacuation centre at the Huon Valley PCYC has housed hundreds of people for days, including Glenda Stokoe, 49, who has lived at nearby Geeveston with her husband for 14 years.
She left home on Monday leaving her husband to fight the fire.
“I’ve never seen it this bad. Everyone is on edge, they don’t know what they might be going home to,” Ms Stokoe said.
Her home is just a couple of kilometres from tourism drawcard, the Tahune Airwalk, which has been closed for almost a week amid the bushfire threat. While the airwalk’s visitor centre was saved by firefighters overnight, other parts of the property were damaged.
Not far away at the Southwood wood processing site, a fuel storage shed and chemical storage areas were damaged.
Police have urged fleeing residents to lock their homes after a 42-year-old man allegedly looted several properties in the Huon Valley area on Monday.
“Thieves are often opportunistic and I urge everyone to lock their belongings to prevent being a target of burglary,” Inspector John Ward said.
Temperatures are forecast to peak in the mid-30s on Wednesday, when another 60 interstate firefighters are expected to arrive and join the battle.
“This fire fight is not over. We’ve got a long period ahead of us of no rain so there’s no respite ahead of us,” TFS district officer Andrew McGuinness said.
The second fire carrying an emergency warning has been burning for almost a fortnight at Great Pine Tier in the state’s Central Plateau.
— AAP
UPDATE: 4:48PM: Tasmania could look to North America and Europe for firefighting reinforcements as the state’s own specialist remote area teams battle fatigue.
Teams from Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, the ACT, NSW, Queensland and New Zealand are assisting local firefighters, with the blazes burning statewide.
Sixty additional firefighters from agencies throughout Australia will arrive in Tasmania tomorrow to help battle the fires.
Fire service district officer Andrew McGuiness said the state would again request additional resources.
“This continues to stretch our resources both on the ground and at state co-ordination level,” Mr McGuiness.
He said the state’s remote area firefighters were “fatigued”.
“One would suggest that if these fires go for the next six weeks, eight weeks, then we’ll certainly have to tap into North America and potentially Europe to get some degree of expertise here to assist us,” he said.
“The challenge is probably more remote area firefighers — because it’s such a specialist field, sustaining remote area firefighters in the foreseeable future is going to be really challenging.”
An emergency alert has been issued for the town of Geeveston and the nearby areas of Port Huon and Cairns Bay.
The Tasmania Fire Services says bushfire in the area is putting those areas at very high risk now.
“This fire is uncontrollable and fast moving,” the emergency alert said.
“Burning embers, falling on Geeveston, Port Huon, Cairns Bay will threaten your home before the main fire.
“Smoke and ash will make it difficult to see and breathe.”
UPDATED: 2:47PM: HUON Valley Mayor Bec Enders said the work of emergency workers and community members at the Huonville evacuation centre had created a sense of “calmness”, but she said the region faced “a couple bad days ahead”.
Around 160 evacuated Huon Valley residents, impacted by an out of control fire burning in the state’s southwest, set up camp inside the PCYC last night.
A further 78 tents were set up outside for fire-affected residents to camp, while another 28 campervans also housed residents.
Mayor Enders said there was also in excess of 400 animals taking shelter at the Ranelagh evacuation centre for pets.
Cr Enders, who has spent the most part of Tuesday assisting at the Huonville evacuation centre, said residents were remaining calm while also showing the vigilance required.
“An information session held next door at the primary school repeated more of what we’ve been hearing over the last few days — and that’s to stay cautious,” she said.
“The room was told if you sense a threat, leave your home without hesitation as we’re expecting a couple bad days ahead.
“Volunteers at the evacuation centre are doing an incredible job. There’s still room for residents.
“It can hold up to 300 people and all we ask residents is, if they can, to bring their own bedding.
Tasmania Fire Service Deputy Operations Officer Phil Smith said 120 ground crew were working to contain the blaze which started near the Tahune Airwalk.
Mr Smith also said seven aircraft were also working on the fire.
He confirmed residents were being asked to leave their homes when asked if police were conducting door knocks to fire-affected Huon Valley properties.
“At the moment, Police are maintaining a high level of vigilance so those sorts of community engagements are occurring,” he said.
UPDATED 2:34PM: Mt Field National Park has been closed today, tomorrow and Thursday due to the ongoing fire threat, the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service said.
“This closure is earlier than previously anticipated but the decision to do so has been made on advice from the Incident Management Team. PWS will re-evaluate the situation on Thursday afternoon and will advise in due course,” Parks said in a statement.
As well, a number of walking tracks in Freycinet National Park are being temporarily closed today from 3pm until midnight due to the risk of walkers becoming trapped in the case of wildfire.
Those tracks include Wineglass Bay Lookout and Wineglass Beach, Mt Amos, the Hazards beach & peninsula walking tracks, the Isthmus Walking track and South Friendly 4WD track.
The following tracks at the Douglas Aspley National Park are also being closed from 3pm until 9am Thursday 31 January.
The are the Douglas Apsley Gorge, Waterhole walking tracks and the Leeaberra walking track
A complete list of track, area and campground closures are available at www.parks.tas.gov.au/closures.
A total of ten emergency warnings are in place for the state.
Eight relate to a large fire burning bear Geeveston in the Houn Valley. The other two are for areas impacted by the Great Pine Tier fire on the Central Plateau.
UPDATED: 1:45PM: Up to 14 fire crews have been based out of Geeveston fire station as the bushfire threat draws nearer.
Some crews, including Tasmania Fire Service remote area teams, are out assessing and patrolling Arve, Donnelleys, Fairy Falls and Fourfout roads.
Crews from Geeveston, Kingston, Southport, Wellington, Glendevie, Middleton, Channel and Dover are currently based in Geeveston to protect the town from ember attack.
A spotter helicopter has been trying to locate the fire front through thick smoke that has blanketed Geeveston and surrounds.
This morning, firefighters were lighting a containment line behind properties on Donnelleys Rd about 6km from Geeveston to try to stop the blaze spreading further.
Firefighters were able to save the Tahune Airwalk visitor centre from a sustained ember attack due to a nearby bushfire last night, the Tasmania Fire Service said.
“While the main building did not suffer any damage, smaller structures near the Airwalk were damaged or destroyed,” the TFS said in a statement.
Damage to the popular tourism attraction was being assessed today.
The TFS said the Southwood wood processing site was also damaged by fire late yesterday.
“Tasmania Fire Service and Sustainable Timber Tasmania crews were initially able to put out spot fires in log heaps, sawdust piles and wood waste,” the statement said.
“However, a fuel storage shed and chemical storage areas were damaged. Sawdust in a sawdust hopper also caught fire.
Embers have melted plastic roofing sheets on a larger building.
“Crews were able to enter the building to put out these fires until conditions on the site were deemed too unsafe and crews were forced to relocate to a safer area.”
Damage to the mill would be assessed when conditions were safe, the TFS said.
Geeveston taskforce leader Bill Coad said the out-of-control bushfire threatening the town is progressing slowly and was not very aggressive.
He said current conditions were assisting firefighters with structural protection and possible containment lines.
The blaze is currently burning in bushland at the top of Fairy Falls Rd about 5.5km from town and behind properties on Donnelleys Rd, also 5.5km from Geeveston.
UPDATED: 12:35PM: The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that a Fire Weather Warning is current today for the East Coast, Midlands, Upper Derwent Valley and South East forecast districts with a Very High fire danger forecast for much of the eastern half of the state.
A state maximum of 33 degrees is expected at and Hobart is forecast to reach 31C.
North-westerly winds are forecast to reach around 30—40km/h.
Wednesday is expected to see a continuation of warm conditions with temperatures of 33C predicted for Ouse, Brighton and Campania and 30 degrees predicted for Hobart.
Very high fire danger ratings are forecast for most of the state on Wednesday — with fresh north-westerly winds continuing of around 35—45km/h.
“Thunderstorms are possible in the west in the evening and in northeastern areas late afternoon and evening,” the Bureau said.
“Cloudy conditions will see some showers about the West and northeast tomorrow, but significant totals are not expected.”
A fire weather warning has been issued for parts of #Tasmania today. It is for the East Coast, Midlands, Upper Derwent Valley and Southeast forecast districts. Details here: https://t.co/NHL3HY0zFO
— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) 28 January 2019
Smoke from bushfires is expected to continue to linger in parts of the state through the next two days.
“A cold front will cross the state late Wednesday bringing cool, fresh and gusty west to south-westerly winds on Thursday,” the Bureau said.
The front will be accompanied by possible showers of 10-15mm, mainly in the state’s west and cooler temperatures, which will persist into Friday.
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UPDATED: 11am: The Tahune Airwalk has been severely damaged by fire, firefighters say.
Firefighters returning to Geeveston this morning form the area, told the Mercury that the visitor’s centre at the popular tourist attraction has been so far been spared by blaze.
However the metal walkways and some of the associated infrastructure has been impacted by the fire.
UPDATED 10am: Sustainable Timber, Parks and Wildlife and New Zealand firefighters are battling a significant spot fire west of Geeveston this morning.
Three houses have been lost and Geeveston remains blanketed in smoke as an out-of-control blaze continues to rage in the Huon Valley.
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The main bushfire has crept down Donellys Rd, about six kilometres north of the township of Geeveston. The bushfire is burning in thick bushland behind properties.
Firefighters are lighting a containment line to try and stop the blaze from spreading further.
The spot fire was on Arve Rd, between the intersections of Oigles and Southwood roads.
Firefighters were attempting to wet tree trunks to stop flaming bark from flying off and starting more spot fires.
The wind was pushing the spot fire southward at 8am today.
One building at the Ta Ann veneer mill suffered significant damage overnight and it remains under threat today.
Aerial footage shows up to four plumes of smoke coming from one of the smaller buildings at the Southwood Rd site.
A total fire ban has been declared for 12 southern and two northern municipalities tomorrow.
The ban will be in place from 2am on Wednesday, January 30 until 2am on Thursday, January 31.
It will apply to Brighton, Central Highlands, Clarence, Derwent Valley, Glamorgan/Spring Bay, Glenorchy, Hobart, Huon Valley, Kingborough, Sorell, Southern Midlands, and Tasman in the South, and Break O’Day and Northern Midlands in the North.
Huon Valley Mayor Bec Enders said 126 people stayed inside the evacuation centre at the Huonville PCYC, 42 Wilmot Rd last night.
“There were 75 tents and 24 campers in the surrounding council land,” Cr Enders said.
“We had 28 cats on-site and 41 dogs and the numbers are increasing over at the animal refuge which is … at the Ranelagh Showgrounds.”
Cr Enders said residents were anxious and likely to be getting tired as well.
“The fireys don’t know what this fire is doing here in the Huon Valley, it’s unpredictable, and because you need to stay alert, continually, that can get quite tiring as well as the emotional side of possible loss,” she said.
“In saying that, though, people are feeling very comfortable at the PCYC, and they are getting a lot of support.
“They’re a very resilient community, and you can see that playing out in front of you.”
A community briefing was last night attended by about 750 people at Huonville.
Community briefings facilitated by the TFS are being held today at 12.30pm and 7pm at Huonville Primary School.
“We will also be having a session today at 5pm at the Geeveston Community Hall, but please — the session at Geeveston is only for Geeveston residents who have decided to stay and defend their homes,” Cr Enders said.
“We look forward to people attending those information sessions because they have proven to be really successful in getting those messages out from the Tasmania Fire Service.
“Also, we will be interviewing the Tasmania Fire Service officers briefly before each session and putting that up on the Huon Valley Council Facebook page.
EARLIER: Seven emergency warnings remain in place in the Huon Valley after a Boeing 737 airtanker joined the fight against bushfires raging in the hills behind Judbury yesterday.
Three houses have been confirmed lost within one kilometre of each other on Bermuda and Frypan roads north of Geeveston.
In a statement this morning, the Tasmania Fire Service said fire crews spent the night patrolling the bushfire affected areas of Judbury, Glen Huon, Franklin right through to Geeveston in the Huon Valley, and Hermitage to Waddamana in the Upper Midlands.
There have been no reports of either the Riveaux Road or Great Pine Tier fires breaking containment lines or creating spot fires overnight.
A backburn conducted on the southern edge of the Great Pine Tier fire late yesterday has so far successfully contained that edge.
The TFS said large air tankers were used in the Huon Valley and on the Gell River fire. An air tanker also assisted on a fire that broke out at Clarendon Vale in the early evening.
The fire danger in bushfire-affected areas today will be very high. While fire conditions eased overnight, today’s conditions will push the fires in a south-easterly direction and allow them to grow.
EARLIER: A little bit of white ash was falling in the main street at Geeveston as the community remained on high alert.
Post Office owner Brett Kennedy has his water tanker parked out the front ready to defend his business and house out the back.
Firefighters are concerned the forecasted north-westerly winds will continue to puts the fire towards Geeveston, Port Huon and Castle Forbes Bay.
The smoke was somewhat clearer further north along the Huon Highway near Franklin.
There are emergency warnings for Franklin, Judbury, Glen Huon, Lonnavale, north of Geeveston, the area of Bermuda Road — south of Judbury, and Castle Forbes Bay, Geeveston, Port Huon, Cairns Bay, and Waterloo.
There is also an emergency warning Jean Banks Rd, between Waddamana and Hermitage, on the Central Plateau. All the emergency warnings were last updated by the Tasmania Fire Service shortly after 6am.
Seven watch and act alerts are in place, and there are a further 14 advice alerts. For more information, visit the TFS website or listen to ABC local radio.
The Huon Valley fire, which started near the Tahune Airwalk almost two weeks ago, has spread through bushland, skirted the Southwood veneer mill and is currently burning in thickly forested country to the south of Judbury, a small hamlet 12km along the Huon River from Huonville.
Late on Monday, five helicopters conducted continuous waterbombing against the fire in the vicinity of Bermuda Rd.
Thick smoke from the fire could be seen billowing to the South.
The Boeing 737, backed up by a C130 Hercules heavy aerial tanker, could be seen in the skies above, making repeated runs over the fire.
A steady stream of traffic was flowing along the only road that remained open out of the area.
Smoke from the Gell River fire, burning near the town of Maydena, was being blown into the area.
EARLIER: THE southern Tasmanian town of Geeveston faces the prospect of being surrounded and cut off as a fire burning on two fronts in heavy bush and plantation timber approaches from the west.
The Tasmania Fire Service has urged all residents south of Huonville to consider relocating as the fire was being driven towards the Huon River by strong winds.
The Huon River bridge at Huonville was closed to most southbound traffic on Monday and text messages were sent to those in the area warning them of the danger. The Glen Huon Rd was also closed due to the fires.
About 400 people had evacuated the area because of the fires. the Tasmania Fire Service said.
Plans were being made to bring a Boeing 737 heavy water bomber into the fight.
There were 44 bushfires listed, with 21 of considered going.
TFS Deputy Chief Officer Bruce Byatt said there were seven emergency warnings current across the state — most of them relating to the fire that started near the Tahune Airwalk in southern Tasmania.
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Areas near Waddamana and Hermitage were subject of emergency warnings and lesser “advice” level warnings applied to fires on the West Coast.
“It’s important to remember the bushfire warnings are changing status regularly and we urge Tasmanians not to become complacent,” Mr Byatt said.
“So people in communities with bushfires at the emergency warning status urge to leave now and before the fire approaches. Burning embers will be falling in those warning areas.
“Heavy smoke and ash will make it difficult to see and difficult to breathe.
“The TFS is considering a total fire ban for Wednesday and most of the areas in the south and some of the areas in the north will be in severe to high fire dangers through that period. “While we were expecting some relief from rain on Thursday, we’re less optimistic about that now.”
TFS regional fire controller Jeremy Smith said it was possible Geeveston could be cut off by fire.
“Certainly we’re planning for that to eventuate,” he said.
“The fire is burning as mentioned in inaccessible areas and it’s coming out into the backs of properties and townships, so we’re putting in place plans and methods to ensure we protect as many properties as possible.
“Residents in the area should prepare themselves for the possibility of being cut off for several days due to either road closures or if the bushfire reached the Huon Highway.”
Scores of cars and utes, some towing trailers and boats, were seen heading north along the Huon Highway towards Huonville after the emergency warning was issued.
Ash had started to fall on Port Huon on Monday afternoon and thick smoke blanketed the marina, which visibility down to about 200m.
Locals said it was they worst they’d seen it in the past week.
Police were seen doorknocking homes to take names of residents, while a firefighting strike team planned their defence outside the Kermandie Hotel.
The strike team plan to tackle any spot fires that flare up ahead of the main front.
The hotel has come to the aid of firefighters working in the area.
Owner Joanna Jablonka said they were remaining open at this stage and had fire crews staying with them.
“We live onsite, this is our home as well,” she said.
“We’ve got fireys set up across the from the property and two ex-firefighters live next door.
“We’re luckier than most.”
She said it was a hard call to make to decide when to leave but they would remain with the hotel for as long as they could.
“The community is on our mind, we hope everyone stays safe and alert to what’s going on,” Ms Jablonka said.
“We’ve been watching the conditions for a week and we’re mentally prepared for it.”
The Ta Ann veneer mill, which was miraculously spared over the weekend, was under attack again last night and suffered some structure damage.
Fire crews were also battling the northeastern edge of the blaze, which was burning in paddocks south of Glen Huon.
Firefighters were patrolling the opposite bank of the Huon River in case of spot fires.
Mr Smith said communities, individuals and families needed to plan for a potential isolation if the Huon Highway or bridge was blocked.
“People need to have those plans in place. If they don’t need to be in the vicinity in the area south of Huonville, please consider moving north,” he said.
He said managing the fatigue of fire crews was a high priority.
“Now some of the crews have been going since before Christmas. They’ve been deployed to Cloudy Bay on Bruny Island on Christmas Day and they’ve been fairly active ever since,” he said.
“So we’re monitoring and providing rest wherever we can and also looking right across the whole state about moving resources if required.”
Parks and Wildlife Service chief Jason Jacobi said the Hastings Cave and Thermal Pools had been closed again and other closures were being monitored as required.
“We’re reiterating very strongly our advice to people avoid remote bushwalking tracks in the coming days particularly until the conditions subside and most people are adhering and taking that advice and sticking to short walks in and around are centres that remain open,” he said.
“People should go to the Parks and Wildlife Service website for all updates on park closures and track closures across the state.”
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