NSW Rural Fire Service arrives in Tasmania to fight Gell River bushfire in South-West

Remote-area specialists from the NSW Rural Fire Service have hit the ground in Tasmania to help local crews tackle an out-of-control bushfire.

Remote-area specialists from the NSW Rural Fire Service have hit the ground in Tasmania to help local crews tackle an out-of-control bushfire.

The 12-member crew will assess the fire front today in the state’s remote South-West to try to nut out a way to extinguish the blaze.

Strike team leader Bruce Davies said they didn’t know a huge amount about the fire but would learn more about it today.

“We know it was pretty small initially but it got a run last Friday and it’s in some really sensitive areas so we believe that’s why we’re here to help,” he said.

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Tasmania Fire Service incident controller Steve Richardson address firefighters from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service after arriving in Tasmania. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“We’ve worked with Tasmania quite closely, both with them helping us in New South Wales and us being in Tasmania.

“A lot of the country down here is different so we’re dealing with different landscapes, different materials and weather and ground conditions.”

Tasmania Fire Service incident controller Steve Richardson said the NSW crew would provide “invaluable support” and were capable of staying out at the fire front for up to four days.

“The plan for today is much the same as what we’ve been doing since the fire took a run last week,” he said.

“It’s about consolidating the containment lines that we’ve got in place and continuing to put out hot spots in different areas.”

Firefighters from the TFS and Rural Fire Service load equipment onto buses ready to assist firefighting efforts. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

He said firefighters were prepared for conditions to deteriorate later today.

Southern Tasmanians are expected to swelter though another hot day today, with temperatures expected to reach more than 30C in the South.

Hobart is forecast to hit 29C, Launceston 26C and the Upper Derwent Valley 31C.

A total fire ban is in place for the Brighton, Central Highlands, Clarence, Derwent Valley, Glamorgan-Spring Bay, Glenorchy, Hobart, Huon Valley, Kingborough, Sorell, Southern Midlands and Tasman municipalities.

Hot weather is also expected on Saturday, with dry thunderstorms possible in the early morning.

Warm conditions are set to continue from Sunday into early next week, with daytime temperatures expected to be 5-6C above average for January and overnight temperatures 3-4C above average.

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