Uncontrolled bushfire burning on Bruny Island as more fire crews and aircraft en route

UPDATED: Unauthorised drone activity has grounded the aerial firefighting operations on Bruny Island.

An aerial drone is wreaking havoc with Bruny Island bushfire-fighting efforters. (File photo: NICOLAS TUCA /AFP)

FIREFIGHTING efforts on Bruny Island are being hampered by a drone being flown in the area, forcing the grounding of waterbombing aircraft.

Tasmania Police have posted on Facebook that a drone operator was putting the Bruny community at increased risk.

“Flying drones near bushfires can be an offence under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority,” the post read.

In a similar post, the Tasmania Fire Service said all aircraft operations on the South Bruny Island fire had been suspended due to a drone being flown near the Kettering oval.

“This is a reminder to all to operators of drones to not fly near aircraft at any time. This puts the safety of people in aircraft at risk and also impacts on the safety of the community.”

EARLIER: TASMANIAN firefighters have spent Christmas Day battling a ferocious fire in windy conditions with almost 100 people evacuated from Cloudy Bay.

The uncontrolled bushfire across 138ha near Conleys Point, South Bruny, started on Christmas Eve and forced firefighters to call in extra cavalry this morning.

Tasmania Fire Service public information officer Peter Middleton said at this stage one home and some sheds were known to have been damaged.

Mr Middleton said many of the 100 people evacuated were tourists visiting Bruny Island, staying at campsites and short-stay accommodation venues.

“The crews that worked on Christmas Eve had a very difficult time and did an exceptional job of protecting homes and evacuating people,” he said.

“There needs to be a full rapid impact assessment of the area. Today’s weather conditions are looking more favourable.”

Mr Middleton said the windy conditions made it a difficult night. Additional police and emergency vehicles travelled to Bruny Island on the first ferry this morning to lend a hand.

“They were a welcome relief,” Mr Middleton said. About 15-plus fire trucks and five waterbombing helicopters are on hand to contain the blaze.

Tasmania Police says roads in the Cloudy Bay area have been closed to all traffic except emergency services.

“If anyone is still in the area and hasn’t been spoken to by police or members of the fire service, they should evacuate immediately to Alonnah or make themselves known to emergency service personnel in the area,” a police spokeswoman said.

The location of the bushfire at Conleys Point, on South Bruny Island. Photo: TASMANIA FIRE SERVICE

MORE NEWS:

CHURCH LEADERS DELIVER THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

VERY TASSIE CHRISTMAS FOR CRUISE TOURISTS

HURRICANES BLOW AWAY MELBOURNE STARS

There may be smoke and ash from this fire visible around greater Hobart and southeastern Tasmania today.

An evacuation centre has been set up at the Alonnah Hall, 14 School Rd, Alonnah, where a community meeting was held this morning.

The Tasmania Fire Service encourages people in the Conleys Point and Cloudy Bay areas of South Bruny to keep up-to-date with the situation by listening to ABC Radio and monitoring the TFS website.