Tasmania breaking news: TFS add upgrade two fires to advice alerts

TFS crews already battling 20 fires across the state are now responding to two upgraded fires, which are now at advice alert level. The latest.

Tasmania Fire Service TFS truck tears through Hobart intersection of Murray Street and Macquarie Street. File image, generic image, fire, Tasmania, The Mercury, emergency services, BEAT Tasmania

For the latest, follow The Beat, the Mercury’s live breaking news blog with the latest traffic, police, fire and ambulance news across the state.

Two bushfires on west coast upgraded to advice alert level

3.31pm: Two bushfires on the state’s west coast have been upgraded to advice alert levels.

This comes after almost 20 bushfires sprung up across the state following dry lightening late on Monday.

Advice alerts have been given fro Rosebery, Savage River and surrounding areas, with TFS warning communities to monitor conditions.

While there is no immediate threat, conditions are expected to be changeable.

Residents for affected areas are encouraged to check their bushfire plan and decide on whether you will stay and defend or leave your home in the case the warning level is upgraded.

For fire updates, listen to ABC Local Radio or visit tasalert.com.

TFS Deputy Commander urges community vigilance

11.05am: Deputy State Fire Commander Mark Dobson said almost 4770 dry lightning strikes hit Tasmania since late Monday.

“With hot and windy weather experienced across the state from late yesterday, over 4770 dry lightning strikes occurred near or over Tasmania, with 1227 recorded as striking the ground since 1pm (time) yesterday, with strikes sparking multiple fires across the west coast area,” he said.

“Air crews are continuing to conduct spotter flights to gather intelligence, map and prioritise our response to these fires, many of which are in remote areas.”

With bushfire responses ongoing in the west coast and Huon channel areas, the community is urged to remain vigilant and continue to monitor local conditions with the weather predicted to change on Tuesday.

Deputy Commander Dobson said that while no communities are currently at risk from the bushfire advice alert fires in Corinna and Zeehan, he urged local residents to be vigilant and monitor conditions.

“The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted thunderstorms across the west coast, east coast and midlands this afternoon and early evening, with the potential for further lightning strikes,” he said.

“If you are aware of lightning strikes in the local area and you see smoke or fire, please report to Tasmania Fire Service immediately on triple-0.

“Firefighting activities are ongoing in the Huon channel area, with Tasmania Fire Service, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, and Sustainable Timber Tasmania crews on the fireground and in the air, working to extinguish a fire which started on 28 January and has so far burnt 480 hectares.”

“Active firefighting is ongoing, and proactive patrols of the fireground will continue over the coming days to monitor for any flare-ups.”

“With the weather forecast to change today, the best way for people to stay safe is to be prepared and stay up-to-date with local conditions by monitoring TasALERT and listening to ABC local radio.”

Bushfires around the state after lightning strikes

February 4, 10.40am: Almost 20 bushfires are going around the state after a series of dry lightning strikes and extreme hot weather on Monday.

Bushfires are mainly recorded in the north-west and west of the state, with 20 bushfires listed on the TasAlerts website, with one in Corinna and one in Zeehan under a bushfire advice alert level.

Tasmanian Fire Service (TFS) crews are in Robinson Street, Zeehan working to get the bushfire under control.

Meanwhile, TFS, Parks and Wildlife and Sustainable Timbers Tasmania crews have been called to Mount Donaldson in Corinna.

Residents in Zeehan, Corinna and surrounding suburbs are advised to monitor conditions and prepare to enact their bushfire plan.

Fires in Trial Harbour Road, Queens Head, Pieman River, Violet Rivulet, Corinna Road, Rocky River, Parsons Hood, Mount Meredith, Yellowband Plain on the West Coast, Mount Black in Rosebery, Canning Peak in Lake St Clair, and Corinna Road and Leatherwood Ave in Savage River have all been marked as going by TFS, with crews currently working to bring them under control.

Call for community assistance in Tea Tree burglary

February 3, 11.46am: Police are calling for community assistance in their investigation into a Tea Tree burglary on Saturday.

Police responded to reports of a house burglary on Middle Tea Tree Road at Tea Tree about 4pm on Saturday.

Police recovered a white Toyota Hilux utility vehicle with NSW registration plates on Grices Road shortly after the incident.

To assist in investigations, police are asking for the public to submit any dashcam footage of the vehicle in the Tea Tree area between 3.50pm and 4.50pm Saturday.

Anyone with information is also asked to contact Bridgewater CIB on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Huon Valley three-car crash leaves elderly in serious condition

February 2, 8.12am: An elderly couple remain in a serious condition in hospital after a three-car crash in the Huon Valley on Saturday.

Police and emergency services responded to calls for assistance at the northern end of Franklin around 1.30pm, around 500m south of Swamp Road.

The crash involved a white Suzuki, a white Ford utility towing a car on a car trailer, and a silver Suzuki.

Initial investigations indicate that the white Suzuki had slowed to a stop to give way to oncoming traffic before preparing to turn into a driveway. The ute towing the trailer was following the white Suzuki, and as it came around a corner, the driver braked heavily, losing control of the trailer and its load. The ute collided with the white Suzuki, forcing it into oncoming traffic, where it then collided with the silver Suzuki.

The occupants of the silver Suzuki, who are elderly, are in a serious condition. The driver of the white Ford utility was taken to hospital in a stable condition, while the driver of the white Suzuki was uninjured.

Patients were evacuated from the scene by two helicopters and road ambulance.

The road remained closed until approximately 6.40pm.

This incident serves as a timely reminder for all drivers to ensure any load being towed is within the specified limits of the trailer and tow vehicle and that all loads are properly secured.

Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be factors in the crash, but all drivers have undergone mandatory blood testing.

Tasmania Police thanks the community for their patience while officers conducted a thorough investigation at the scene.

Police urge anyone who witnessed the crash or who has relevant dashcam footage to contact police on 131 444.

Man accused of exposing himself at Royal Park charged

February 1, 8.20am: Police have charged a 43-year-old man of allegedly exposing himself to strangers at Royal Park, Launceston.

Police said multiple reports were received regarding the incident that occurred on Friday morning between 8am and 10.30am.

The man was later arrested and charged with prohibited behaviour.

Police said he would appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court in April.

Officers are calling for anyone who saw a man acting in an offensive manner on the walking path between Royal Park and Kings Bridge to contact police.

Elsewhere, a crash injured a 40-year-old man on Abbotsfield Rd, Claremont near the Brooker Highway on Friday evening.

Officers said they responded to reports of a crash at 9.30pm.

The man has been taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital with minor injuries and is set to make a full recovery, police say.

Investigations continue into the incident.

Meanwhile in Tasmania’s North-West, firefighters were kept busy early Saturday morning.

Tasmania Fire Service crews report arriving to a house fire fully destroyed by a blaze on Guide Rd, Tewkesbury.

The fire had also spread to a vehicle and vegetation upon arrival just before 6am.

The extent of damage and cause is unknown at this stage.

Circular Head man in 20s killed in single vehicle crash

10am: A young man has died after a serious early morning crash at Woolnorth in the state’s North-West, police confirm.

Emergency services responded to the incident at West Montagu Rd at Woolnorth just before 4.40am this morning following triple-0 calls.

Unfortunately, a Circular Head man in his 20s sadly died at the scene, police said.

Officers confirmed he was the only occupant of the vehicle.

The crash only involved the single vehicle.

The road will remain closed for several hours while the scene is cleared.

Police said investigations into the crash were ongoing and a report would be prepared for the Coroner.

Learner driver zooms 50km/h over limit on highway, police say

10am: An inexperienced driver was caught speeding 50km/h over the speed limit at South Arm, police say.

Officers allege the learner driver was detected about 4pm on Thursday travelling at 130km/h on the South Arm Highway. The speed limit was 80km/h.

The L-Plater was fined and disqualified from driving for four months.

Inspector Kathy Bennett warned travelling at those speeds placed both the rider and other road users at risk.

“This rider was inexperienced and disappointingly put himself, and others, at risk of serious injury or death,” she said.

“We’re encouraging anyone who witnesses such dangerous driving behaviour to report it to police.”

Information can be provided by calling police on 131 444.

Unit caught in flames in early morning blaze

January 31, 8.20am: Firefighters were called out in the early hours of the morning for a unit fire on Hobart’s Eastern Shore.

Clarence and Hobart crews arrived to La Perouse St, Warrane just after 3.30am — where it’s reported flames were coming from the roof.

It took under an hour for the blaze to be extinguished, a Tasmania Fire Service spokesperson said.

Tasmania Police estimated the blaze caused $100,000 of damage.

Officers said no one was home at the time of the fire.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

Alarm alerts crews to building fire at Kingston

January 30, 8.30am: A fire alarm at a residential property in Kingston alerted authorities to an emergency incident at Freesia Crescent, TFS says.

Firefighters arrived to smoke billowing from the building.

TFS said evacuations had already taken place ahead of crews arriving and entering the home to extinguish the fire.

Car and motorbike crash at busy Brooker Highway intersection

4.05pm: Drivers have been asked to avoid the intersection at Brooker Highway and Park Street at New Town following a crash.

Emergency services are on the scene of an incident involving a car and motorbike, police say.

Police said no serious injuries had been reported at this stage.

They’ve requested motorists avoid the area or slow down and drive with caution until the crash is cleared.

Man dies seven weeks after serious crash

January 29, 11am: A 75-year-old man has sadly died seven weeks after a vehicle crashed into a fence and rolled down an embankment.

Police confirmed the man died having been in hospital in a serious but stable condition following the crash on Summerleas Rd, Fern Tree on December 10.

He had been at the Royal Hobart Hospital and it is unknown what injuries were inflicted from the incident.

The crash that happened on a Tuesday afternoon had closed the road for two hours.

Police say a report will be prepared for the coroner.