Wind continued to cause havoc for firefighters trying to control the deliberately lit bush fires near Fingal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Food for the masses
Many hands make light work, and that's exactly what's been happening at the Fingal Neighbourhood House this week.
Keri Webb is a volunteer at the organisation and has this week become the head chef to feed the masses.
Ms Webb has fed everyone from emergency services through to those who have been evacuated.
"We've been helping whoever needs it. We had a big town meeting on Tuesday and one [on Friday]. We put a barbecue on for those. Not many stayed, they came and found out what they wanted and left," she said.
"It hasn't been a difficult process to have food here. Everyone pitches in and if they're here they lend a hand."
Ms Webb said the town's IGA had been amazing with donations.
"We just grab what we can off them. They've given hams and everything," she said.
A lot of the food is being prepared for the emergency services, however it's often being delivered to them as they're too busy.
On Saturday, 11-year-old Perth resident Hayley Barnes and her mum also helped in the kitchen. Hayley's grandparents live at Fingal and the youngster was keen to help however she could.
The community spirit is alive and well in the town, Ms Webb said.
"The [person] who lost everything is a volunteer and [they] have been here all week helping other residents contact their families to let them know they're okay," she said. "[The person] said 'I've started from nothing once before and I can do it again', but I said 'yeah, but there is a lot more people here helping you this time.
"Sometimes you think the olden days where people used to socialise all the time are gone, but no there is still a country feel here."
Smoke alerts
Smoke from the Victorian bushfires blanketed Tasmania on Saturday morning, which prompted the Tasmania Fire Service to issue a smoke alert for the entire state.
The haze cleared across much of Tasmania in the afternoon but the TFS noted that smoke from Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania had been "impacting the state at various times" and advised people with medical conditions, especially respiratory issues, to stay indoors.
A north-northeasterly wafted smoke across Bass Strait into Tasmania, with the North and Central Tasmania being hit particularly hard.
Air quality index readings showed that much of Northern Tasmania had very unhealthy air quality, with some areas reaching hazardous levels. However, the air quality in most of the North was downgraded to good later in the day.
St Helens and Scottsdale's air quality, which had alarmingly been classified as hazardous earlier in the day, was later downgraded to moderate and very unhealthy, respectively.
FIRE WRAP
The thick smoke was a mixed blessing for the Tasmania Fire Service: It insulated fires burning in the state from the sun and helped prevent the expected flare-up in otherwise dangerous conditions.
The TFS said its priority over the next few days before dangerous conditions return, is to get those residents back home.
It was feared the fire would jump containment lines on Saturday and enter the Douglas-Apsley National Park, but that did not occur as of 4.30pm.
Winds from all directions were wreaking havoc for firefighting efforts at Fingal on Saturday afternoon.
Tasmania Fire Service senior station officer Rick Mahnken said the worst was still yet to come as crews battled a large complex of bushfire at Fingal.
It is one of six areas at Mangana and Fingal that are burning, with four at watch and act level and two at advice level. There are seven fires across the state at advice level.
Mr Mahnken said no active fire fighting was happening today because it was too dangerous.
The choppers took to the skies for the first time after 2pm due to smoky conditions. Conditions were still unpredictable.
"So far on the ground it has been difficult to control," he said.
"In saying that, we've got our resources in place for any breakouts."
No back burning was occurring because conditions were too unsafe. Some back burning is still occurring from past days.
Eight people were still sheltering at Mangana at 6pm.
- A 35-year-old Mangana man has been charged. See Page 7 for information.
- More fire coverage Page 12.