Southwest blaze: ‘The uncertainty takes a toll on everybody’

As fires continue to burn at Gell River, a bushfire expert is calling for Tasmanians to brace for uncertainty in coming weeks.

Sprinklers in Tasmania’s Southwest as bushfire threaten high-conservation areas near Lake Rhona. Picture: Parks and Wildlife

As bushfires at Gell River in the Southwest wilderness continue to burn, a bushfire expert is calling for Tasmanians to brace for uncertainty in coming weeks.

University of Tasmania pyrogeographer and fire scientist David Bowman said firefighters would be operating under immense pressure, but the fire would also take a psychological toll on the public if it burnt on.

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“Spare a thought for the people fighting these fires,” Professor Bowman said.

“It is a very stressful situation. They know there is a risk of more blow-up days. And this stress may soon be shared by the people of Hobart.

“These fire events can last over 40 days and the uncertainty takes a toll on everybody.”

Fire crews were not managing a Peter Dombrovskis photo, Prof Bowman said, referring to the wilderness values underpinning remote dousing operations.

“They are managing life, property and livelihoods, too. The fire is not directly threatening those yet and it may not, but, if it blows up and sparks hit more settled areas, that may prove a game-changer.”

Smoke from bushfires darken the skies at Westerway. Picture: ALEX McWHIRTER

It was tricky managing fires such as this one at the edge of wilderness, rather than deeper in, as it meant strategies for containing fire near settled areas had to operate concurrently as wild-country operations.

He said it was vital to adapt to a new 21st century reality.

“At the same time as we acknowledge the people tasked with managing this situation, it’s important we talk about resource management in relation to direct firefighting and fuel-reduction management,” Prof Bowman said.

Entrenched positions served no one, he said.

“We are all in a new situation — answering questions about what the best strategies are, what is cost-effective, how do we prioritise, are not questions that can be left to a select group,” Prof Bowman said. “They are for the community to decide.

“With climate change there are going to be many more of these fire events.”

The Gell River fire remains under an advice alert and is about 17,663 hectares with a 91km boundary.

By about 4pm, the fire was burning about 10km northwest of Tim Shea in the Vale of Rasselas and along the Denison Range.

The fire front had passed Gells Lookout in the south and was continuing east of the Gordon River along the Gordon Range.

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University of Tasmania pyrogeographer and fire scientist David Bowman. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Tasmania Fire Service incident controller Rod Sherrin said the western boundary had burnt up the slopes into the Denison Range around Lake Rhona and other alpine lakes before self-extinguishing on the ridge tops.

One keen bushwalker relieved that the lake surrounds have so far been spared is Peter Grant, a nature writer/blogger and former Parks and Wildlife Service staffer.

A regular visitor to the lake for more than 35 years, Mr Grant commended the allocation of resources to protect rare vegetation, including endemic pencil and King Billy pines.

“It sounds as if extraordinary measures were taken to protect those species,” he said.

“I hope it’s a move in a good direction that acknowledges climate change is having a real effect in these areas.”

Mr Grant emphasised the rare beauty of the site, with its tannin-stained water and sparkling white quartzite sand beach.

Peter, a nature writer/blogger and former Parks and Wildlife Service staffer, and Lynne Grant atop Reeds Peak overlooking Lake Rhona. Picture: Supplied

State Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Michael Ferguson praised firefighters for their “incredible” efforts.

“Armchair experts who claim it is simple to put out a bushfire in remote wilderness show complete disrespect for the fantastic efforts made to keep Tasmanians safe,” Mr Ferguson said.

Thanks to the Tasmania Fire Service and Parks and Wildlife Service, no lives have been lost and property damage was minimal.

Since 2016, the Government has invested $4 million to improve bushfire management in the wilderness area.

This fire season, 19 seasonal fire crew were employed to add to the PWS dedicated fire crew and the 130 PWS with fire management in their remit.

The Government has also made a $55 million commitment to a targeted fuel reduction program.