Pedder Wilderness Lodge to be evacuated as a bushfire precaution

Guests at a wilderness lodge in the state’s South-West are preparing for an emergency evacuation as bushfires threaten the area.

HOLIDAYMAKERS at a wilderness lodge in the state’s South-West may be forced to pack up and leave as bushfires continue to burn in the region.

More than 50 guests are expected to be evacuated from the Pedder Wilderness Lodge near Strathgordon early on Tuesday if the extreme fire conditions threatening the area continue overnight.

Pedder Wilderness Lodge manager Simon Kanan said the hotel was not in imminent danger, but the risk remained high.

“We had a few guests leave early Monday and were escorted out by TFS crews,” he said.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty over what’s happening, and guests were given the option to leave as a precaution if the road remained closed.

“It’s just a wait and see game at the moment.”

Smoke from the fire in Strathgordon. Picture: PAUL FLEMING/@lovethywalrus.

Here they come! #Thunderstorms coming from the west and northwest of #Tasmania. Watch for them here:

Satellite: https://t.co/LyYkmzggi9 or
Radar: https://t.co/pEDGNvusU2

If a warning is required, we will issue it here:https://t.co/ItqnPP0O23 pic.twitter.com/q3UHCnUuB0

— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) December 30, 2019

An alert is currently active for Strathgordon and the Gordon River Road, while an emergency alert has been issued for people travelling through the area.

Two fires have been identified, the latest sparked by a suspected dry lighting strike on Monday afternoon, and the other a flare up of the existing Tall Trees fire burning from last week.

EMERGENCY WARNINGS FOR DERWENT VALLEY, EAST COAST

Tasmania Fire Service chief Chris Arnol said a second lightning storm predicted to hit on Monday afternoon would create a very serious situation.

“We’re looking at 20-metre flame heights. We’re concerned the lightning conditions will give us a lot of problems going forward,” he said.

“We’re right in the thick of it. The East Coast is still a concern, but now the West Coast with the baking heat and the wind is, and we’re picking up lightning with ignition on the ground.”

WEATHER FORCES CLOSURE OF THE TASTE OF TASMANIA

Six blazes continue to threaten properties across the state with fires burning in Pelham, Elderslie and Broadmarsh in the Upper Derwent Valley, Fingal, Mangana and Tower Hill in the state’s North-East, and Strathgordon in the South-West.

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