Bushfires put North East at ‘very high risk’ ahead of worsening weather conditions on Saturday

Residents of the fire-threatened area around Fingal have been told to expect a night of “very high risk” as bushfire conditions worsen ahead of the weekend.

RESIDENTS in a fire-threatened area of the North-East have been warned they face a “very high risk” into Friday night ahead of “bad” bushfire weather forecast for Saturday.

“Burning embers falling on Mathinna Rd, Fingal to Mathinna may threaten your home before the main fire and trees may fall without warning,” the Tasmania Fire Service alert said.

“Smoke and ash may make it difficult to see and breathe.”

There are watch and act alerts for bushfires burning at Mangana, the Tower Hill area, Fingal and surrounds, and Mathinna. An advice warning is current for Royal George Rd and Nowhere Else.

FRIGHTENING SCENES AS FIRE CLOSES IN

FINGAL FIRE ‘LIKE A BOMB HAD GONE OFF’

A St Marys TFS volunteer during backburning operations at Fingal. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

The main bushfire, which was believed to have been deliberately lit near Tower Hill in November, spread south, jumping the Fingal Valley to start two spot fires on Mt Malcolm and in the Malcolm Range just south of Fingal.

Those fires, which started 3km apart, have now merged, with two spot fires starting 7km and 12km away.

Tasmania Fire Service Acting Regional Chief Ian Bounds said there were no “solid containment on any of the fires around Fingal”.

“We have a good solid boundary, if you like, on the southern edge along Mangana Rd,” he said.

“We are getting a good boundary along Mathinna Rd on the eastern side.”

Tasmania Fire Service crews conducted back-burned on the northern edge of the Mathinna fire today.

“The western edge is still being tracked, so that is still not contained.”

Backburning operations at Fingal. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

TFS has developed strategies for the state’s North-East ahead of a 30C day with 32km/h winds in the region on Saturday.

“Saturday’s conditions aren’t looking favourable,” Mr Bounds said.

He said the fire just south of Fingal posed a “significant risk” if it was unable to be contained before Saturday.

“It has potential to run into what is known as the Douglas-Apsley National Park.

“If the fire gets into the Douglas-Apsley, it is highly likely it would push out to the East Coast before we could contain it.

“If the fire does push into the Douglas-Apsley, we have some strategies in place about where we pull triggers on that in relation to community warnings. The potential impact will be the communities on the East Coast if it gets pushed that far.

“The vegetation is extremely dry all down the East Coast including the Douglas-Apsley. Being a national park it is very limited in access points. The park will be closed as park of our strategy.”

TFS volunteers during backburning operations at Fingal. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Mr Bounds said TFS had enough resources on the ground and in the air for Saturday with 10 aircraft.

“If we get an outbreak and conditions don’t allow us to wrap that up, then we’ll fall back to our emergency warnings,” he said.

Fingal resident Tony Verren prepares for the approaching bushfire. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

The only structural loss from the main fire at Mathinna Rd was a shed and shipping container at Mangana.

Police are continuing to investigate the deliberately lit fire.

Mr Bounds said a bushfire at Flinders Island had been contained on all sides and was confident that fire would remain contained over coming days.

The cause of that fire is also being investigated.