NZ firefighters in Tasmania
NEW Zealand firefighters were on high alert last evening as they battled blazes in Tasmania during one of the worst days of the fire season so far.
Residents in parts of the region have been told to evacuate as 66 fires burning across the state and emergency alerts are in force in three areas.
Six hundred people are involved in the firefighting effort.
A team of 10 New Zealand firefighters tasked with battling the Gell River blaze had to remain at their Bushy Park base camp last night in the southern region of Tasmania, as conditions were deemed too dangerous.
A major fire has been raging in the remote mountainous region northwest of Hobart, scorching more than 20,000ha of wilderness since it started on December 28.
The area experienced more than 4000 ground impacting lightning strikes on January 1415 that ignited more than 70 fires, 50 of which are ongoing. — RNZ
HOBART: New Zealand firefighters were on high alert yesterday evening as they battled blazes in Tasmania during one of the worst days of the fire season so far.
Hundreds of Tasmanians have fled their homes as bushfires fuelled by heat and strong wind gusts threaten numerous communities across the state.
Fiftysix blazes burned on the island yesterday, with many uncontrolled and nine sparking emergency warnings.
Two homes are believed to have been destroyed.
Six hundred people were involved in the firefighting effort.
A team of 10 Kiwi firefighters tasked with battling the Gell River blaze had to remain at their Bushy Park base camp yesterday evening in the southern region of Tasmania, as conditions were deemed too dangerous.
A major fire has been raging in the remote mountainous region northwest of Hobart, scorching more than 20,000ha of wilderness since it started on December 28.
The area experienced more than 4000 ground impacting lightning strikes on January 14 and 15 that ignited more than 70 fires, 50 of which are ongoing.
Another team of 10 New Zealand frontline firefighters are based further south in the Riveaux area, while a team of seven aircraft management specialists remains in the northwest of the region.
Hot temperatures, strong winds and dry thunderstorms have caused havoc across the region.
NZ Fire and Emergency liaison officer Nigel Dravitzki has been based in the State Coordination Centre of the Tasmania fire authority in Hobart since arriving earlier in the week.
He told RNZ the New Zealand fire crews were dealing with a ‘‘dynamic environment’’ and they were working to a preplanned agenda, which included evacuations and saving structures and property in their assigned areas.
However, he said, after a safety assessment yesterday afternoon it was decided the Alpha Team based at Bushy Park remain at base camp until conditions improved.
‘‘The situation is very volatile, with high winds and the potential for dry lightning, bringing the
possibility of new blazes,’’ he told RNZ.
The Taranaki/Ruapehu/ Whanganui principal rural fire officer said New Zealand teams would remain in Tasmania as long as the local fire authority
needed them.
‘‘We are dealing with a lot of variables, so it’s hard to tell how long that will be.’’
Major concerns remained for communities in the state’s Central Plateau as well as towns
south of Huonville, and the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) was advising people to leave.
The TFS had warned about of the possibility of embers sparking new fires up to 20km ahead of existing blazes.
Erratic fire behaviour is expected, TFS chief officer Chris Arnol said.
Hobart and Glenorchy reached 36degC yesterday afternoon.
Severe fire danger is predicted for the Midlands, SouthEast,
Upper Derwent Valley and East Coast, with very high fire dangers across much of the remainder of the state.
A statewide total fire ban is in place until early Monday. — RNZ/AAP