A water-bombing helicopter sprays a fire near Bridport Road. Picture: NEIL RICHARDSON
The Tasmanian Fire Service launched water-bombing aircraft and a strike team at Pipers Brook yesterday to contain a 1.5-hectare bushfire.
The fire ignited late yesterday afternoon as firefighters battled eight new fires across state in severe fire danger conditions, which included 50km/h gusts.
The fire near Bridport Road had been contained to a small area by last night with fire crews working to extinguish it and build containment lines.
Authorities were anticipating an easing of conditions this morning.
Chief Fire Officer Mike Brown said the expected rain would hopefully mean lightning strikes, also expected, did not become an issue.
``We'll be watching it pretty closely because we're expecting some warmer weather by next weekend,'' he said.
``If we don't get much rain the landscape is still going to be incredibly dry.''
Chief Officer Brown said this could push the traditional February bushfire season out to March or even April.
Bureau of Meteorology severe weather meteorologist Paul Fox-Hughes said cooler temperatures, slight rainfall and higher humidity would ease fire conditions for the next few days.
Fire crews are hoping this stamps out a 250-hectare fire at Gretna in the state's South.
Thirty-three crews and six water-bombing aircraft were deployed to battle the blaze, which started in a paddock.
There was no immediate threat to communities, however, parts of the Lyell Highway were closed.
Tasmania Fire Service senior station officer Phil Douglas said the number of resources that were re-allocated to this fire at the time ``really put us in a good stead to get on top of it early''.
``They've been able to stop the full spread of the fire much sooner than we'd anticipated,'' he said.
``They're continuing to work in that area but they're happy that they're controlling that fire.
``It no longer is impacting or threatening any houses or community.''
``We are saying to people who may have relocated from that area that they're able to return to their homes.''
The fire has been downgraded to advice level by 9pm yesterday, and there were no reports of property being lost.
The two-week-old Molesworth fire also continued burning across nearly 3000 hectares but is under control.
No communities were threatened however smoke continues to be a potential hazard for Lachlan, New Norfolk, Molesworth, Collinsvale, Mount Wellington, Greater Hobart, Mountain River, Crabtree and Fern Tree due to winds from the north.
Fire crew will continue patrolling a two-week-old fire at Fingal, which has taken hold in the Douglas Apsley National Park, which remains closed.