Total fire bans will continue across Tasmania in response to soaring temperatures and dry conditions, with firefighters fearing the worst is yet to come.
Tasmania Fire Service chief Gavin Freeman says crews were able to quickly deal with six fires on Saturday, but ongoing temperatures in the mid-30s, wind gusts of up to 80km/h and the threat of dry lightning meant fire bans in the state's north and south would remain in place on Sunday as well.
"Tomorrow's weather is looking a little bit worse in terms of fire weather than it was today, so we really don't want any fires on the ground at all," Mr Freeman said.
He said special firefighter strike teams were deployed to deal with the blazes on Saturday and at least the same amount of crews - and perhaps even more - would be ready for action on Sunday to respond to the high-risk conditions.
Mr Freeman said an extreme fire danger rating would be declared for Flinders Island, northeast of Tasmania, on Sunday, meaning extra crews would be deployed there.
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One of Saturday's fires occurred near Dunally, on the state's east coast, which was almost completely destroyed in Tasmania's devastating 2013 bushfires.
Mr Freeman said although it posed no real threat, it would have made residents nervous.
"Obviously, for the people who live in Dunally to see smoke only a few kilometres northeast of their township again would have been a very worrying time for them," he said.
Conditions are likely to improve during the week, but Mr Freeman warned the respite would only be for a few days.
It meant fire bans could be enforced again on Christmas Day, he said.
"Anybody who's planning to use an outdoor fire for their Christmas lunch, they'd better start thinking about a back-up venue now," Mr Freeman said.
