Largely favourable weather conditions overnight into Wednesday have allowed fire crews to make progress containing a number of the fires still burning across the state, though Tasmania Fire Service is urging residents not to become complacent.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
TFS has more than 700 personnel working on the fires, with more than 195,000 hectares already burnt and seven properties lost.
Back burning efforts carried out Tuesday afternoon at the Great Pine Tier fire appeared successful, a spokesperson said.
These efforts were focused on protecting property at Brandum, Liawenee and Reynolds Neck after evacuations in the area late Tuesday.
IN OTHER NEWS
A sprinkler line is in place to protect the Thousand Lakes Lodge at Bernacchi, with back burning also used.
In the North-West, back burning was undertaken late yesterday to contain the Britons Swamp fire. Patrolling crews have reported good conditions overnight.
At the Riveaux Road fire, crews patrolled from Lonnavale to Geeveston overnight and identified a number of hotspots in inaccessible areas near Glen Huon. Water bombing will take place today.
Reports from the Gell River fire indicate it remained quiet.
With the favourable conditions forecast to continue, TFS and partner agencies will work on strengthening containment lines into Thursday.
Up to 30 millimetres of rain is expected across the North and North-East on Thursday and up to 25 millimetres across the rest of the state, though TFS deputy chief officer Bruce Byatt said it would not be enough to put out the fires at Great Pine Tier, Riveaux Road and Gell River.
“We will still have a considerable amount of work even if we do get rain, whilst it will help, it won’t completely extinguish it,” he said.
Although fire weather conditions are favourable, TFS urges Tasmanians not to become complacent. These fires will continue to remain a risk to communities for some time yet, the TFS spokesperson said.
TFS advise people living in these areas should continue to monitor the situation and stay up to date by looking at the TFS website and by listening to ABC local radio.
While you're with us, you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates and daily headlines direct to your inbox. Sign up here.