Updated 5pm, Thursday February 22: Firefighters and dozens of aircraft are responding to several large bushfires across the south of the state, including an out-of-control fire in the Central Highlands.
The blaze near Bradys Lake is currently under an Emergency Warning, particularly for the Dee community and surrounds.
Tasmania Fire Service Deputy Chief Officer Matt Lowe said five fires within kilometres of each other were reported in the Highlands on Wednesday afternoon.
“TFS ground crews and aerial firefighting resources were deployed yesterday and those efforts have continued today,” he said.
“We have about 20 aircraft, as well as 12 crews from Sustainable Timber Tasmania and 10 Tasmania Fire Service crews on the ground trying to contain the fire.”
The fire is currently uncontained, with crews battling tough conditions, strong gusty winds and dry vegetation.
The Lyell Highway is currently closed to all but local traffic and people are urged to avoid the area.
“With the high fire danger weather not forecast to ease until later this evening, we also have additional crews positioned at key locations across Southern Tasmania,” Lowe said.
“A Total Fire Ban is in place for Southern Tasmania until 2am on Saturday, which means no-one should be lighting fires in the open, including incinerators, burn-offs, campfires, fire pots and wood-fuelled barbecues.”
“If you do see a fire or smoke in the air, call Triple Zero (000) straight away.
Updated 2:50pm, Thursday February 22: An uncontrollable bushfire “may destroy homes” near Dee in the next half an hour, with the Central Highlands locality now on emergency alert.
The fire is travelling towards Dee Lagoon and the TFS say it is expected to put lives in danger.
“Fire conditions are expected to be uncontrollable and unpredictable. The fire is travelling towards Dee Lagoon,” the TFS said.
“There is expected to be thick smoke, and showers of embers which may cause fires all around you. Fires will move quickly and may come from many directions.”
“If you don’t have a safe route to a safer place, shelter inside the nearest building, regularly checking your surroundings and putting out any fires near the building until the fire passes.”
“If you are out of the area do not try to return.”
Earlier: ‘Prepare to Leave’ bushfire warnings have been issued for people in the Central Highlands this afternoon as multiple fires burn nearby.
The fire service say the fires are travelling towards Bradys Lake and expect Portal Road, Dee and Tarraleah to be impacted by 4pm.
They are urging residents to prepare to leave as the fires are expected to be difficult to control.
Multiple fire alerts are currently active across the state, including Lyell Highway at Lake Binney, Mentmore Tier at Dee and Snake Tier at Tarraleah.
Conditions are also expected to worsen as a bushfire burns in the Huon Valley area near Crabtree this afternoon, with people nearby told to ‘prepare to leave’.
The fire is currently travelling towards Crabtree and is expected to be difficult to control, the TFS say.
The BOM’s nearby Grove weather station has recorded a top temperature of 33.3°C today.
Aircraft are working to contain the fires, which have come on a day of extreme fire danger for much of the state.
In the south, the City of Hobart have closed all bushland reserves for the day due to extreme fire danger ratings, while the TFS are enforcing a total fire ban until 2am Saturday.
