THURSDAY:
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‘Thor’ has arrived in Tasmania.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service aircraft landed at Launceston Airport on Wednesday night and is ready to assist with the bushfire west of St Helens.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY 6:30pm:
The Tasmania Fire Service is flying in a Large Air Tanker from New South Wales for possible deployment against the St Helens bushfire on Thursday.
The aircraft is capable of carrying 15,450 litres of fire retardant.
Higher fire danger ratings are expected over Thursday and Friday with very high fire ratings for Saturday as crews continue to battle the 7500-hectare fire 10km west of St Helens.
State Fire Controller Jeremy Smith said the service is concerned the fire may take another run on Friday and Saturday as weather conditions worsen.
"The aggressive strategy may involve the use of a Large Air Tanker (C130) from New South Wales for aerial retardant runs, with a focus on protecting communities south of St Helens including Upper Scamander and Trout Creek,” he said.
"We need communities to be prepared and aware of the fire situation which may change very quickly."
The cause of the fire, which has been burning in dry, difficult to access terrain throughout bush behind St Helens and Upper Scamander for more than a week, is under investigation but is not believed to be the result of a hazard reduction burn.
WEDNESDAY:
A fire west of St Helens has spread across nearly 7500 hectares.
SES crews have joined Tasmania Fire Service on the ground, as the bushfire continues to impact the region.
While there was no immediate threat to properties or residents on Wednesday morning, TFS urged anyone near the blaze to ensure their homes were “bushfire ready”.
The bushfire is about 10 kilometres inland from St Helens but caused a blanket of smoke along the East Coast last week.
Homes on Terryvale Road at Goshen and Powers Road at Pyengana were previously at risk, but as of Wednesday the blaze remained at Advice level.
“The fire has jumped south of Granite Knob Road in the vicinity of Holloways Hill,” TFS said.
“Crews have had to pull out of this area. The fire continues to run to the west in inaccessible terrain towards Trafalgar Flat.
IN OTHER NEWS:
“The fire has also run west towards the Rayners Hill Regional Reserve. Crews are continuing to black out contained edges where possible.”
The bushfire has been burning since Tuesday and started on Argonaut Road, St Helens.
MONDAY:
A 6000-hectare bushfire burning west of St Helens is now impacting Pyengana.
A Watch and Act alert was issued by Tasmania Fire Service, with Powers Road residents warned the fire was travelling towards them.
Powers Road will be at high-risk within the next two hours, TFS said.
Siamese Road at Goshen may also be affected.
“This fire will be difficult to control. There may be embers, smoke and ash falling on Powers Road, Pyengana,” TFS said.
ADVICE:
- You need to start taking action now to protect your family and your home.
- If you are not prepared for a bushfire, be ready to leave for a safer place.
- If you don't live near Powers Road, Pyengana, stay away.
- If your family have made a bushfire survival plan, use it now.
EARLIER:
A fire continues to burn across more than 6000 hectares west of St Helens.
The bushfire has been burning since Tuesday and sparked the first emergency warning of the season on Friday.
Residents on Terryvale Road at Goshen were told to evacuate as the fire spread.
But by Friday night, there was no longer a threat to homes and the fire was downgraded to Watch and Act.
Across the weekend, smoke continued to spread from the area of the fire and along the East Coast.
RELATED STORIES:
Tasmania Police closed Terryvale Road to all traffic “until further notice”.
Argonaut Road at St Helens, where the fire started, has also been closed to all traffic from about one kilometre east of Hermitage Road.
Tasmania Fire Service, Parks and Wildlife and Sustainable Timber Tasmania crews were still working to control the blaze on Monday, with a smoke alert in place for St Helens, Mathinna and surrounding areas.
Community sessions will be held across the region on Monday, with crews expecting the fire to continue for a number of days.
Tasmania Fire Service officers and Break O’Day Council workers will be at upper Scamander, Trout Creek, German Town and Irish Town throughout the day.
Stay up to date on the bushfire here.
Find road closure information here.