A total fire ban has been declared for southern Tasmania ahead of extreme fire weather forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.
The Tasmania Fire Service says the ban will be in place from 2am Wednesday until 2am Thursday, with the east coast and Midlands expected to face the most severe conditions.
Fire permits in northern Tasmania will also be suspended for an extended period, from 2am Wednesday through to 2am Saturday.
TFS deputy chief officer Matt Lowe said the Bureau of Meteorology was forecasting high to extreme fire danger ratings across several regions.
The ban prohibits all open fires, including incinerators, burn-offs, campfires, fire pots and wood-fuelled barbecues.
Lowe said increasingly dry soil conditions had led to the longer permit suspension in the north.
“These conditions make controlling any fires that do start difficult to control and significantly increases the likelihood of new fires starting and spreading rapidly, putting lives, property and firefighters at risk,” he said.
Strike teams from TFS, Parks and Wildlife and Sustainable Timber Tasmania will be stationed at key locations around the state.
Lowe urged Tasmanians to prepare for potential bushfire threats and stay alert.
“If you do see a fire or smoke in the area then report it straight away,” he said.
“With the conditions that are forecast, we need everyone to play a part in reducing fire risk and to continue to be as prepared as possible.”
