Tasmanian firefighters brace for more potential fires as weather heats up

Firefighters are battling to bring scores of blazes in Tasmania under control ahead of tough conditions looming this week.

A large bushfire burning in Tasmania.

Hundreds of firefighters are trying to contain 72 bushfires burning across Tasmania. (AAP)

Firefighters will be kept on their toes with even more challenging fire behaviour expected this week as the weather heats up and little rain falls.

Hundreds of firefighters, including from interstate and New Zealand, are on the ground and in the skies to help contain more than 70 blazes still burning.

Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Chris Arnol said fire had burnt 121,000 hectares of the southern state and more than 1000km of uncontained fire edge remained.

Fire crews in Tasmania are battling 56 blazes across the state.
Fire crews in Tasmania are battling 56 blazes across the state. Source: Will Hodgman/Facebook


"More challenging fire behaviour is actually predicted later on the week as well and we also have another five or six weeks of our bushfire season through February to go," he said.

"I urge Tasmanians again not to become complacent, it is a moving feast, it is dynamic, so we need to be ever-aware of what is going on around us."

The Great Pine Tier blaze has burnt about 40,000 hectares while another out-of-control blaze at Riveaux Road, Southwest has scorched about 14,500 hectares.



The blazes sparked emergency warnings to be issued to nearby areas on Sunday.

Fire service, police and the State Emergency Services are due to speak with residents at community meetings that have been scheduled for Monday afternoon in Zeehan and Rosebery.

The Bureau of Meteorology warns Wednesday will be the hottest day for the week before possible rainfall and thunderstorms, as a cooler change moves through.




Very high to severe fire danger ratings are expected on Wednesday across parts of the state.

There is scope for a total fire ban, especially in the south, later in the week.

A protection plan for the Walls of Jerusalem National Park has been enacted to prevent the Great Pine Tier fire moving in, and some back-burning may be undertaken this week.


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Tasmanian firefighters brace for more potential fires as weather heats up | SBS News