Crews battling raging bushfires in Tasmania are bracing for worsening conditions and potential spot fires, as conservationists call on the federal government to increase efforts to protect world-heritage wilderness.
Scores of blazes continue to burn across the island state on Wednesday, with 13 emergency alerts and ten warnings in place.
Temperatures are forecast to peak in the mid-30s as winds reach speeds of up to 40km/h.
Wildfires causing the most concern continue in the Huon Valley in the state's southeast, on the central plateau, at Gell River in the southwest and at Zeehan on the west coast.
Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) district officer Andrew McGuinness has warned residents east of the Huon Valley blaze that it could jump the Huon River.
"We've got crews on the eastern side of the Huon River patrolling," he told ABC Radio.
"We could get some spotting from the main fire there."
The same fire is putting homes and people at risk at Wattle Grove, Judbury, Lonnavale, Franklin, Castle Forbes Bay, Glen Huon, Waterloo, Surges Bay, Brooks Bay, Glendevie, and Police Point.
What's left of Tasmanian tourist attraction, the Tahune airwalk in Tasmania. Source: AAP
Residents have been told to evacuate if it's safe to do so or to actively defend their properties from embers, smoke and falling ash.
While preserving life and property remains the focus of firefighters, the Wilderness Society has called on the federal and state governments to request overseas water bombers to protect thousand-year-old King Billy pines in the state's world-heritage southwest.
But Mr McGuiness says troops on the ground are needed.
"We've got 38 aircraft operating in the state at the moment. The more aircraft you bring into the state doesn't necessarily lead to extinguishing fires," he said.
"We need to be able to deploy remote area firefighters into these areas. We need Mother Nature to give us some rain too."
More than 400 personnel are fighting the fires, with 60 interstate reinforcements arriving on Wednesday.
The TFS has warned more homes are likely to be lost after three properties near Glen Huon were destroyed on Monday.
Police have charged four men over a burnt out stolen ute that sparked a large bushfire at Clarendon Vale on Hobart's eastern shore.
Five helicopters and several ground crews were needed to put the blaze out on Monday afternoon.
A suspected deliberately lit fire at Blessington, east of Launceston, is also being investigated by authorities.
Police have warned people evacuating their homes to lock up, after a 42-year-old man was charged on Monday with burglary and stealing.
As the fire battle continues Tasmanians are being asked to conserve water, with provider TasWater saying mains supply cannot be guaranteed during bushfires.
The fires pose a threat to critical infrastructure including power generation and transmission lines.
A fire ban is in place for Tasmania's south, plus the Northern Midlands and Break O'Day municipalities.
