Tasmania Fire Service crews tackle Fern Tree blaze involving 20 cars

UPDATED: The Tasmania Fire Service has revealed the cause of a blaze at Fern Tree which burnt about 43 cars and a couple of structures. SEE THE PICTURES

Tasmania Fire Service attend a large fire on a property in Summerleas Rd in Fern Tree. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

UPDATED: THE Tasmania Fire Service has revealed that the fire last night in Fern Tree that burnt about 43 cars and a couple of structures was an accident that started by a general burn-off.

Acting District Officer in Hobart Barry Bones said a gentleman at the property yesterday was cleaning up around his property and was conducting a burn-off well within the rules of the TFS permit period.

The fire at Summerleas Rd in Fern Tree involved as many as 40 cars. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“The fire progressed through ground litter to a nearby vehicle which set that on fire and then subsequently other vehicles and a shed after that,” he said.

Mr Bones said there were four brigades who attended the site late in the evening, with 30 crew and nine vehicles.

“This was a difficult fire for firefighters to extinguish given that most of the vehicles were in a type of lean-to that had a roof and external walls and once that structure collapsed on top of the burning cars that made it difficult for firefighters to get the water in there,” he said.

Tasmania Fire Service Acting District Officer Hobart Barry Bones. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Mr Bones said he would like to remind people to remain vigilant when cleaning up around properties.

“People are getting quite complacent because the weather is getting cooler but it’s still quite dry. We haven’t had any significant rain so we want people to still be vigilant and make sure they keep in attendance with their fires and fully extinguish them before they leave them.”

UPDATED 7.54AM: Summerleas Road near Fern Tree has been re-opened to traffic after a fire last night that involved up to 20 cars.

The Tasmania Fire Service said the fire was first thought to be large shed ablaze but was in fact a lean-to containing building materials.

An investigation is set to be completed this morning.

Tasmania Fire Service attend a large fire on a property in Summerleas Rd at Fern Tree. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Nine TFS crews were called out to battle the blaze at the end of Summerleas Rd, which was closed to all traffic by Tasmania Police until about 11.15pm last night.

“Crews will remain on scene to ensure the fire is completely extinguished and will maintain a fire watch until an investigation can be completed tomorrow morning,” the TFS said in a statement about 9.20pm.

Tasmania Fire Service attend a large fire on a property in Summerleas Rd, Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

EARLIER: FIRE crews have rushed to a blaze in the Hobart suburb of Fern Tree, where a large shed and up to 20 cars are on fire.

In a short statement issued about 8.30pm today, the Tasmania Fire Service said nine crews were responding to the blaze at the end of Summerleas Rd.

“Twenty cars are also on fire in the adjacent wrecking yard,” the TFS said in a statement.

“The fire will take a significant amount of time to contain.”

Tasmania Police said Summerleas Rd had been closed to all traffic because of the fire.

“Motorists are asked to find an alternate route while the Tasmania Fire Service conduct firefighting activities,” police said in a statement at 8.50pm..

“This closure is expected to last for some time due to the nature of the fire.”