For more than 11 days, hundreds of emergency workers and volunteers have been battling a blaze west of St Helens.
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The bushfire has spread across 7500 hectares, coming within 50 metres of homes at Goshen last week.
Tasmania Fire Service Incident Controller John Hazzlewood said crews were preparing for a windy weekend, with East Coast residents warned of high-fire danger on Saturday.
"We've got plans in place if the fire is pushed down towards Upper Scamander, Scamander and further along the coast, we've got strike teams ready to react," he said.
Crews from Tasmania Fire Service, State Emergency Service, NSW Rural Fire Service and forestry workers are among the 120-plus team taking part in the overall firefighting operations.
"The crews are doing pretty well," Mr Hazzlewood said.
"We've had them on rotation ... we're doing our best to watch our crew fatiugue and that applies to both staff and volunteers who have been putting in enormous hours to protect their communities.”
Tasmania Fire Service and Tasmania Police Investigators have now deemed the fire accidental.
State fire controller Jeremy Smith said the fire was believed to have started from an extinguished burn-off that reignited.
He urged land owners to check recent burns involving heavy fuels.
"Large heaps should be broken up by use of machinery and extinguished fully. Log heaps and other heavy fuels should never be pushed up as this buries fuel and can retain heat for extended durations," Mr Smith said.
Tasmania Fire Service declared an official fire permit period this week.
From midnight Wednesday, permits were enforced in Break O'Day, Dorset and Northern Midlands council areas. Permits are also required in most southern municipalities.
Mr Smith also assured the public not to be alarmed if they notice a large air tanker flying over the East Coast.
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New South Wales Rural Fire Service crews arrived on Wednesday night with the aircraft to assist local firefighters in battling the blaze.
The plane was expected to be deployed from Launceston on Friday afternoon.
“Plans have been in place for a few days now to potentially utilise aerial retardant drops to help contain the fire," Mr. Smith said.
"The air tanker is making strategic retardant drops to help link containment lines in inaccessible areas ahead of the fire.”
Melissa Mobbs
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
