Winds trouble Tasmanian fire crews

Strengthening and changeable winds are posing trouble for authorities who are battling 26 out-of-control bushfires across Tasmania.

High winds are preventing crews reaching bushfires in remote parts of Tasmania but people and dwellings remain free from threat.

With gusts forecast to reach up to 80km/h on Monday the Tasmania Fire Service feared the worst for 26 blazes burning uncontained across the state.

"There are some fires through the southwest that we have been unable to get crews to through the day because of the winds and remote locations," a spokesman told AAP, citing gust speeds which made it unsafe to use helicopters.

"(The fires) are not going to impact on people's homes but there's certainly potential for them to impact on environmental resources."

Alerts remain in place for six bushfires, with a blaze of more than 62,000 hectares near Mawbanna in the state's northwest causing most concern.

As winds shift from northwesterly to southwesterly into Tuesday the TFS expects there will be pressure on the fire's flanks which could see it approach small communities including Myalla, Milbana and Lapoinya.

Residents can expect to see falling ash and embers from Tuesday morning.

Arrivals from South Australia and NSW on Monday take to more than 400 the number of interstate personnel helping battle the blazes.

There are also vast resources including vehicles and tankers on loan from mainland authorities.

The Royal Australian Air Force on Monday delivered a demountable base camp, capable of accommodating about 300 firefighters.

It will be delivered by road to Stanley in Tasmania's northwest where it will spend coming weeks.

A series of dry lightning strikes in early January sparked more than 70 fires across Tasmania, some of which continue to burn.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world