The community is asked to be vigilant and to stay out of the bush as fire conditions worsen this week.
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TFS regional northern chief Jeff Harper said temperatures were likely to remain above 30 degrees on Tuesday, followed by a cool front on Wednesday, before perfect-storm conditions at the end of the week.
Thursday and Friday are likely to bring statewide above-30 degree temperatures coupled with strong winds, the Bureau of Meteorology has advised the TFS.
There will be Total Fire Bans on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Mr Harper asked all Tasmanian to review their fire action plans, ensure their properties were well-prepared, and to triple-check that all previously lit fires had been thoroughly extinguished, in preparation for Thursday and Friday.
“On days with temperatures that high, fires that have been out, or believed to have been out, for months, can reignite and come to the surface again,” he said.
Visitors and Tasmanians are also asked to avoid bushwalking this week, following about 50 bushwalker evacuations last week.
“We are advising the community that they should not be going on walks – they should not be in that environment – while we have fires of this type,” Mr Harper said.
“Fires in these areas do travel quickly, and it’s very easy to get trapped,” he said.
“We have all got all of our aerial assets commited to firefighting, and to remove one from a fire front to evacuate walkers would actually impact our ability to hold fires where they are.”
As of Sunday, there were 54 fires burning across Tasmania, including at Great Pine Tier.
Nearby Miena is at the Watch and Act alert level, with a fire burning five to six kilometres away from the township at most recent information.
The TFS is using the nearby Ouse River as a containment between the fire and the town, and Mr Harper said it was not believed the community was in immediate danger.
“With weather conditions next week, they will actually blowing away from that area, so we’re fairly confident that the risk to Miena has been reduced – but we still ask people to be mindful,” he said.
Crews from New Zealand and New South Wales are assisting in the efforts to extinguish the blazes.
The latest information can be found on the TFS website.
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Frances Vinall
Frances Vinall is a journalist at The Examiner, Launceston. Contact her at frances.vinall@examiner.com.au
Frances Vinall is a journalist at The Examiner, Launceston. Contact her at frances.vinall@examiner.com.au
