Tullah bushfire, Serious NoHo crash, Van flips on Tasman Bridge, Underground water pipes burst
Firefighters are confident they’ll have the Tullah bushfires contained by the weekend, but warn that further fires could be on the horizon. LATEST >>
Tasmania
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Tuesday, January 25
Firefighters remain at the scene of a bushfire that has been burning at Tullah on the state’s west coast since Saturday.
An advice warning is current for the Tullah township and Mackintosh Dam Road with the size of the fire at 100 hectares.
40 firefighters, including remote area fcrews and six helicopters are working to contain the blaze whihc is now controlled but yet to be contained.
Favourable weather forecasted for the next few days are expected to give crews the chance to work towards containing the bushfire.
“While there is currently no threat to the township of Tullah at this time, that could change and anyone in the area must remain vigilant and monitor TFS warnings.” Tasmania Fire Service warned.
The Murchison Highway is currently open to traffic with a reduced speed limit of 40km/hr in some areas.
Stay up to date with the latest conditions at www.fire.tas.gov.au and ABC Radio.
Tullah blaze to be contained by weekend, say firefighters
Monday, January 24
Firefighters are confident they’ll have the Tullah bushfires contained by the weekend, but warn that further fires could be on the horizon.
Parks and Wildlife Service incident controller Chris Emms said about 30 per cent of the fire grounds were still out of control, but over 50 crews were currently battling the blaze.
Much of the town remains without electricity due to burnt power poles, and TasNetwork repair crews are working to reconnect the power.
An unpleasant smell hangs over the area due to a peat fire to the southeast of Tullah, which is expected to continue burning into next week before being fully extinguished.
Mr Emms said they expected to have the fires contained by the weekend, but that residents should still keep an eye out for updates in case things take a turn for the worse.
“In terms of the operations side, things are going according to plan,” Mr Emms said.
“At the moment there’s still an Advice message across the fire ground to make people aware the fire is uncontained and has the potential to take further turns until we have some contaminants in place.”
Across the rest of the state, Mr Emms said the west of the state would be most at risk for further bushfire outbreaks during the remainder of this fire season.
He said weather forecasts predicted periods of variable rainfall throughout the summer, with periods of wet spells followed by periods of dry spells.
“What we’re experiencing are the traditional effects of La Nina weather with dry conditions on the west coast of Tasmania and average to above-average wet conditions on the east coast, and that’s been reflected to a degree on where we’ve experienced some of our fires,” he said.
“In Tasmania there’s certainly plenty of potential for fires in the state at the moment due to the reasonably dry conditions.”
Hobart City Council mayor Anna Reynolds said it was a reminder of how important it was to have a strong bushfire management plan for the city.
“As a council we need to manage our own estate and make sure we’re doing an adequate job to do what we can to manage our own vegetation,” Councillor Reynolds said.
“That includes fuel reduction burns, fuel breaks, and fire trails to ensure the access for Tas Fire Service crews during the heat of the moment.”
Tullah locals save heritage icon from out of control bushfire
Locals from around the Tullah neighbourhood sprung into action to save their heritage Wee Georgie Wood Steam Railway train from succumbing to a fiery fate.
It happened over the weekend as uncontrollable bushfires raged in the region scattering ash and smoke across the tiny rural community.
Railway committee leader Benjamin Carrick and several others from the neighbourhood spent most of the weekend battling fires on precious little sleep.
They took up buckets, hoses, fire rakes, and whatever they happened to have on hand in order to put out spot fires as embers continued to fall from the sky.
“The fire was at the north end of town near the Mackintosh Bridge. It somehow got across the river and started to head towards Tullah and I thought ‘geez, that’s where me train is,’” Mr Carrick said.
“In the beginning it was pretty full on. It was a pretty huge fire and it stopped just on the borders of Wee Georgie Wood.”
Mr Carrick said it was a gruelling couple of days, during which he only managed to sneak in a few hours of sleep between battling fires.
However the train was eventually saved with everyone’s combined efforts, and he said it warmed his heart to see the community working together.
“It’s great to see the Tullah community get in, knuckle down, and get it sorted out. It’s a little town, so we’re all here for each other,” he said.
“It’s a lovely little train for the town, and it’s a tourism icon and our heritage.”
On Sunday evening he slumped home, hungry and exhausted, where he treated himself to a pork roast and a long sleep.
He awoke on Monday to the sounds of helicopters roaring overhead, and he dragged himself out of bed to continue volunteering to the firefighting effort.
Mr Carrick said the community was doing everything they could to help the emergency services beat back this bushfire.
“They did a brilliant job halting the fire at the edge of town before it got to the old part of Tullah and continued advancing,” he said.
“It’s great to see them get in, knuckle down, and get it sorted it.”
Tullah fire destroys house
4:00pm Sunday, January 23
LOCALS are praising the efforts of the Tasmanian Fire Service for saving the west coast town of Tullah from a raging bushfire on Saturday night.
The appreciation comes as the TFS works to ascertain how the bushfire - which has claimed one vacant house, sheds and machinery - started.
More than 90ha of bush has already been impacted, with ground crews focusing their efforts on extinguishing hotspots, protecting telecommunications infrastructure and establishing containment lines.
Burnie Station Officer Dean Grawe said more than 20 personnel were still on the fireground.
“As we stand right now we are fairly confident Tullah is safe. Although conditions are forecast to change I am confident we are ready for it,” Mr Grawe said.
The bushfire is the second in the North West so far this summer.
“We predict February and March will be our hottest months,” Mr Grawe said.
Mr Grawe said one vacant property, which was overgrown and with a locked gate, had been lost to fire.
“A couple of farm sheds and some machinery has also been destroyed,” he said.
Mayor Shane Pitt said the fire had come very close to other houses and the council set up an evacuation centre at the Tullah hall to give residents somewhere safe to go.
Residents had an uneasy night. Some left and others gathered at the hall preparing to go before learning the situation had eased.
Owner of the Tullah Tavern, Dianne Ashwell, said the fire had come “very,very close” to homes and businesses at times.
“Firefighters did an amazing job. They are still out fighting the bushfire and helicopters are dropping water,” she said on Sunday afternoon.
There are no houses gone that I know of although a few sheds have been lost,” she said Sunday afternoon.
A spokesman from Tullah Lakeside Lodge also praised the fire crews that got the bushfire under control late Saturday night and reduced the threat to the town.
“It is very smoky and hot and half of Tullah has power and the other half not due to what we understand is some burnt power poles,” the Lodge spokesman said.
“I helped a friend pack up last night and we congregated at the town hall. Not long after we were told the situation had eased. It seems the back burning fire crews did halted the fire in its tracks and removed homes and businesses from danger.”
A resident praised the work of the Tasmania Fire Service on social media.
“Absolutely amazing job thank you from the bottom of my heart TFS,” they said.
The bushfire was downgraded on Sunday morning.
Ground crews remained in the area overnight while aircraft support ceased around 7pm on Sunday.
Active fire fighting continued with weather conditions expected to cause an increase in fire activity in the afternoon.
An active fire remains burning on both sides of the Murchison Highway in the vicinity of MacKintosh Dam Rd.
Fire conditions ease for town
10.30am Sunday, January 23
RESIDENTS have heaped praise on firefighters as the bushfire situation has eased in Tullah following a scary night with locals gathering at the town hall and preparing to evacuate.
A spokesman from Tullah Lakeside Lodge said fire crews had brought the bushfire under control late Saturday night and the West Cast town was no longer under threat.
However, the fire is still burning and the Murchison Highway is closed on the Mackintosh side of Tullah because of heavy smoke.
“It is very smoky and hot and half of Tullah has power and the other half not due to what we understand is some burnt power poles,” the Lodge spokesman said.
“I helped a friend pack up last night but when we were congregated at the town hall we were told the situation had eased. It seems the backburning they did has halted the fire in its tracks and taken homes and businesses out of danger.”
A resident praised the work of the Tasmania Fire Service on social media.
“Absolutely amazing job thank you from the bottom of my heart TFS,” they said.
The TFS issued a smoke alert at 9.12am saying the smoke was affecting Mackintosh Dam Rd and as far as 3km north of the bridge.
“There is expected to be smoke, ash and embers from this fire visible around north of Mackintosh Dam Rd,” the alert said.
The TFS says conditions are expected to ease in the area.
Watch and Act issued for Tullah bushfire
7:30pm Saturday, January 22
A bushfire alert at the West Coast Tullah has been upgraded to an emergency warning, with residents at MacIntosh Dam Road urged to evacuate now as the blaze burns out of control.
Tasmania Fire Services said Tullah is expected to be high risk as the bushfire travels toward the town from the North East.
Authorities say burning embers may threaten homes before the main fire arrives and smoke and ash may make it difficult to see and breathe.
Residents whose homes are well prepared may actively defend it but those whose homes are unprepared are urged to go to a safer location if the path is clear.
The Tullah Sports Hall at 24 Farrell Street has been identified as a safer place to go for those who need to evacuate their homes.
Residents with bushfire plans are urged to enact them.
6pm Saturday, January 22
Tullah residents are urged to be on high alert and prepare for a bushfire, with a blaze headed toward the West Coast town, travelling from the north east at Mackintosh Bridge.
Tasmania Fire Services said the blaze would be difficult to control, warning smoke and ash may fall on Tullah
Conditions are expected to worsen.
Two light tankers, one medium tanker, two fixed wings and one rotary wing have been mobilised to fight the blaze.
A personal carrier and rescue vehicle have also arrived at the scene.
Those in the area are urged to enact their bushfire plans if they have one or be ready to evacuate if they don’t have one.
Those who don’t near Tullah are warned to stay away.
What to do:
- Take action now to protect yourself, your family, and your home.
- If you are not prepared for a bushfire, be ready to leave for a safer place.
- If you have made a bushfire plan, check it now.
- If you don’t live near Tullah, stay away.
- For fire updates, listen to ABC Local Radio or visit the TFS website at fire.tas.gov.au.
Vehicle rollover, Acton Park
12:30pm Saturday, January 22
A person has suffered minor injuries and is currently trapped following a single vehicle rollover at Acton Park.
Emergency services are at the scene on Acton Road between Estate Drive and Seven Mile Beach Road.
Acton Road is currently closed and police are urging drivers to avoid the area.
Traffic diversions are in place through Seven Mile Beach Road and Estate Drive.
Serious crash, North Hobart
1am Saturday, January 22
Tasmania Police are investigating following a serious car crash in North Hobart that left a man with significant injuries early this morning.
The 47-year-old was found on the roadside by a member of the public at the corner of Warwick and Church streets around 1am.
Emergency services were called to the scene and a damaged vehicle and a woman in her 40s were found nearby.
The lady is believed to be known to the man and is assisting police with the investigation.
Anyone who saw a white Hyundai sedan travelling in the area around 1:00am, or anyone with information is asked to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
Tasman Bridge crash
3:18pm Friday, January 21
Traffic on the Tasman Bridge crawled to a standstill on Friday after a van travelling towards the Eastern Shore lost control and flipped during the afternoon commute.
Tasmania Police and paramedics were called to the scene around 3:18pm but no serious injuries were reported.
The damaged vehicle was towed away and the scene was cleared by authorities within the hour.
Authorities asked drivers to avoid the area and be patient while traffic congestion eased.
It comes after Tasmania Police were called to another crash on the Eastern Shore at Howrah on Thursday that involved multiple vehicles at the Shoreline Roundabout.
No injuries were reported.
Water pipes burst, Glenorchy
2:00pm Friday, January 21
Underground water pipes have burst at Glenorchy’s Main Road intersection, which has been closed off to traffic.
The road surface has spit open revealing gaping pipes which are spilling brown water over the bitumen and back into the gutters.
Several teams of technicians are currently doing repairs at the site, and the police officers have blocked the road and are redirecting traffic.
Around forty homes have been cut off from their water supplies between Elwick Road and Peltro Street in Glenorchy.
In the meantime TasWater crews will be handing out bottled water on the corner of Elwick Road and Main Road.
TasWater expects the services to be reconnected by around 4am on Saturday.
“Crews are onsite working to restore services as soon as possible. Once water is restored, you may notice your water is temporarily cloudy or dirty in appearance from air and/or sediments being flushed out,” TasWater said.
“If this happens, please run an outside tap closest to your water meter for about 10 minutes until the water runs clear. If you experience ongoing water quality issues after that, please contact us on 13 6992. We thank you for your patience during this outage.”
Vegetation fire, North East
3:15pm Friday, January 21
Tasmania Fire Service crews and water bombers are attempting to put out a vegetation fire burning at the Waterhouse Conservation Area in the state’s North East.
Authorities are urging drivers to obey traffic diversions places along Homestead Road and are asking the public to avoid the area until the blaze has been extinguished.
People intending to camp should also avoid the area and allow emergency services to respond to the fire.
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