The warning comes as Tasmania Fire Service Chief Officer Mike Brown said firefighters would not endanger themselves if homeowners hadn’t prepared properties for the bushfire season.

Asked how well the community was prepared, Mr Brown said it was mixed.

‘‘People have to understand on the really bad days firefighters are going to go where they can protect properties,’’ he said.

This means homes where driveways are not easily accessed or otherwise poorly prepared may be overlooked as firefighters move on to more defendable properties.

Questions have been raised about the preparedness of communities at St Helens, which was hit by a sudden bushfire on Sunday.

The 155-hectare fire cut off road access, forcing residents to flee by boat in some cases.

The fire has been deemed accidental and speculation has centred on a re-ignited burn-off.

Nobody was hurt in the blaze but several properties were damaged.

A joint fuel reduction program is coming to an end with conditions making it too risky in some areas.

Yesterday about 25 firefighters back-burned a 50-hectare bush block which had been troubling the Travellers Rest community for about a decade.

‘‘We were worried a fire might start on a catastrophic day and roar this way threatening the community,’’ Tamar senior firefighter Jaron Oosterloo said.

Officer Oosterloo said not everybody was bushfire-prepared.

‘‘People can get a bit complacent ... but it’s a good timely reminder for property owners to put in place a bushfire plan,’’ he said.

A fire forum is being held at Greens Beach tomorrow night while another information session and barbecue will be held at Golden Valley on Sunday.

For more information contact the TFS.

 pbillings@examiner.com.au