Updated 4pm, Tuesday November 28: The occupants of a house that went up in flames in Hobart’s northern suburbs this afternoon managed to escape unharmed.
Tasmania Police Inspector Jim Semmens said the fire broke out on the upper-storey of the Brooker Highway home around 1pm on Tuesday.
He said a working smoke alarm alerted those inside to the fire, meaning they were quickly able to call for help and evacuate.
The exact cause and circumstances surrounding the fire remain under investigation.
Both city-bound lanes of the highway have since reopened to traffic.
Thick smoke billowing across Goodwood after house goes up in flames
1:15pm, Tuesday November 28: A smoke alert has been issued for parts of Hobart’s northern suburbs and a busy highway lane has been closed as firefighters battle a large house fire this afternoon.
The left-hand lane of the Brooker Highway heading towards Hobart at Derwent Park is currently closed, with Police asking motorists to slow down and drive with caution.
The Tasmania Fire Service say the blaze poses “no threat to the general public” and ask people who “don’t need to be in the immediate area” to stay away.
They said crews from Glenorchy and Hobart found the house “fully involved in fire” upon arrival at around 1pm on Tuesday.
“Smoke from this fire is visible in the Goodwood and Surrounding Areas area … If you are in the immediate area, you can avoid exposure to smoke by staying indoors, closing windows, vents and doors and turning heat pumps and air conditioners to recirculate or off.”
The cause of the blaze is not yet known.
