Tasmania Fire Service has declared a Total Fire Ban this Saturday, December 21, for all municipalities in the north and parts of the east coast.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The ban will be in force in the following municipalities: Meander Valley, Tamar Valley, Break O'Day, Northern Midlands, George Town, Flinders Island, Dorset, Launceston and Glamorgan Spring Bay.
"The temperatures are predicted to be in the high 20s to low 30s and the wind speed will range between 25 to 35 km/h, which will increase fire behaviour and any fires will spread quickly in those conditions," Acting Regional Chief Ian Bounds said.
"A band of dry lightning is expected to occur at some stage this evening.
"If lightning strikes and starts a fire people need to alert TFS immediately by calling triple zero, even if they have put the fire out themselves. This will allow fire crews to ensure any fires started by lightning strikes are properly dealt with.
"All landowners need to be vigilant to ensure that any previous fires on their properties are completely extinguished and there is no chance of re-ignition."
Dry lightning contributed to the January bushfires, which burned over 200,000 hectares.
A Total Fire Ban means that it is illegal to light or cause a fire in the open air, including incinerators, burn-offs, campfires, fire pots, and wood-fuelled barbecues.
Gas and electric barbecues can still be used as long as there is a one metre radius around the barbecue clear of any flammable material.
Immediately reporting fires increases the likelihood of fires being able to be contained quickly.
The total fire ban applies from 2am Saturday, December 21, until 2am Sunday, December 22.
A Total Fire Ban is already in place for the south on Friday, December 20.
A maximum of 36 is predicted for the Derwent Valley on Friday, with cooler weather in Launceston with a maximum of 27. Winds of 50 to 60 km/hr are expected in the south, east and west of Tasmania on Friday afternoon.
Gusts of 70 to 80 km/hr are possible in the south on Saturday.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Lizzie Donovan said rain was not expected in the next two days.
"We do have thunderstorms predicted for Saturday morning mainly in the north and west, but these are dry so they won't be bringing any rainfall with them," she said.
"In fact that may bring lightning strikes which may then ignite new fires, so they aren't helpful at all in terms of fire danger."
Keep up to date at fire.tas.gov.au
IN OTHER NEWS:
