Five years on from the devastating bushfires that ravaged Dunalley, the Tasmania Fire Service looks set to put in place a total fire ban across much of the state on Saturday.
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The TFS has flagged its intention to issue the ban – which would mean no fires could be lit in the open during the day - for both the Northern and Southern regions of Tasmania, as well as on King Island.
And it has not ruled out issuing a ban for the North-West.
Confirmation of the total fire ban declaration will be confirmed on Friday.
The announcement comes after a deliberately lit bushfire threatened homes at George Town on Tuesday.
Tasmania is predicted to experience weather conditions conducive to bushfire on Saturday, which the TFS said would cause fire to “quickly become uncontrollable and spread through the dry vegetation”.
The TFS is urging all Tasmanians to prepare themselves for the conditions and to remain cognisant of their bushfire plans, as well as evacuation routes and places of safety.
TFS Deputy Chief Officer Jeremy Smith said people should not underestimate the potential for fires on Saturday.
“The weather conditions are a perfect recipe for uncontrollable fires,” Mr Smith said.
“Fires that do occur under total fire ban conditions will require significant firefighting resources to contain.
“Additional aircraft have been contracted to assist with firefighting operations and will be strategically located in areas of the highest risk throughout the state.”
Mr Smith implored Tasmanians to immediately contact emergency services on triple-zero if a fire did occur, so that firefighters could contain it as quickly as possible.
He said the five-year anniversary of the Dunalley bushfires served as a reminder that high fire danger days can have a tragic impact on communities.
“We want communities to be prepared,” Mr Smith said.
Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Rene Hidding said the 2013 Dunalley fire event provided “a key learning” to all states and territories.
He also said all Tasmanians needed to understand their role in preventing bushfires.
Visit the TFS website to stay up to date with bans and to check your community’s Bushfire Protection Plan.
