Total fire ban announced for south Tasmania as hot winds, weather to hit on Saturday

As the south of the state braces for heatwave conditions and hot winds on Saturday, a total fire ban has been declared. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW >>

Clouds, summer, sun, summer heat., hot weather. October 2017

As the south of the state braces for heatwave conditions and hot winds on Saturday, a total fire ban has been declared.

The ban will be in force from 2am on Saturday, until 2am on Sunday, and reassessed as required.

Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Dermot Barry said with the combination of hot weather and wind, the fire danger rating would be at ‘extreme’, particularly in the south.

“From 2am tomorrow morning, no fires will be permitted in the open, including incinerators, burn-offs, campfires, fire pots, and wood-fuelled barbecues,” Mr Barry said.

Operators of machinery must also comply with guidelines, which can be found on the Tasmania Fire Service website, until the ban is lifted.

Tasmania Fire Service Chief Officer Dermot Barry at Mount Nelson Fire Station. Picture: Chris Kidd

“We’re urging people to help us to help them,” he said.

“We have our aircraft on standby, we’ve got our volunteers ready to go, we’ve staffed all our regional operations and state operations centres so we are ready to help the people of Tasmania,

Mr Barry said with the rain expected on Saturday afternoon, he hoped the ban would not need to be extended.

Senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, Simon Louis, said the forecasted hot conditions were the result of hot air being dragged down from the mainland – meaning hot days and warm nights.

“The combination of hot days and warm nights is pushing us into severe heatwave conditions in the south of the state,” he said.

Some areas of the state’s south may reach up to 35 degrees on Saturday. Photo: Erin Smith.

“This is the first time for Hobart that we will see consecutive days of over 30 (degrees) since February last year.”

He urged people to reconsider outdoor activities amid the heat.

A front of rain is forecast for Saturday afternoon, with moderate rainfall expected across the state and some thunderstorm activity.

“With the high fire danger across the state, that does mean there is some potential risk of ignition with that storm activity,” he said.

“The good news is, once the hot day (is over) and the rain moves through, we’re looking at more stable conditions into next week.”

He warned that in some areas including the Derwent Valley, upper midlands and southeast, that temperatures could reach up to 35 degrees.