58,000 hectares burnt

Northern regional chief Jeff Harper said on Tuesday there were 49 uncontrolled fires burning across the state.

He also confirmed that 30 extra fire tankers would arrive from interstate to bolster Tasmanian resources.

‘‘They will be here in reserve in preparation for any blow-up day that we see,’’ Mr Harper said.

He said fires this fire season were in areas where fires had not traditionally burnt in Tasmania, so the additional tankers would be an important resource.

Mr Harper said stickybeaks using drones had also hampered firefighting efforts at Nunamara and Lake McKenzie.

‘‘They cause us significant problems because if we get a report of a drone they have the capacity to bring down one of our helicopters and therefore we have to stop all air operations on those fires,’’ he said.

‘‘We do urge people to obey what the rules are around those unmanned craft and please stay away from our fire grounds because we do require air support.’’

Mr Harper said the Temma fire in the North-West was also a concern because of an expected weather change on Wednesday.

‘‘That could push the fire closer to the Temma area,’’ Mr Harper said.

‘‘A lot of those areas are still inaccessible, quite rugged terrain.’’

He said remote area crews were working on the rougher edges of the fire.

Mr Harper said he hoped the considerable rain expected for the North on Wednesday would help significantly with the Nunamara fire and possibly in the Central Highlands too.

He said the TFS and police were investigating suspicious fires and charges were expected to be laid in relation to a fire on Calder Road and another at Tullah, which was linked to a flare.