With hot, dry and windy conditions expected in the coming days and extreme fire danger forecasted, the Tasmania Fire Service has declared a total fire ban for the south of the state.
Deputy Chief Officer Matt Lowe announced the activation of a Hot Day Response team across the state for the ban’s duration, which will extend from 2am on Thursday until 2am on Saturday.
“This means that from 2am tomorrow, no fires will be permitted in the open in Southern Tasmania, including incinerators, burn-offs, campfires, fire pots, and wood-fuelled barbecues,” he said.
“Yesterday we announced that all southern fire permits were suspended until further notice, and now with a Total Fire Ban in place, anyone planning on lighting even a small fire must not do so.”
He said the measures are being implemented to safeguard communities and to ensure public safety.
“The current Fire Danger Rating forecasts are High for most districts on Thursday and Friday and predicted to reach Extreme in the East Coast, Midlands, South East and Upper Derwent Valley on Thursday,” he said.
“Our statewide Hot Day Response doubles the initial brigade response to any fires that do occur and our aerial firefighting fleet remains on hand ready to respond and support ground crews across Tasmania.”
The total fire ban applies to Brighton, Central Highlands, Clarence, Derwent Valley, Glamorgan Spring Bay, Glenorchy, Hobart, Huon Valley, Kingborough, Sorell, Southern Midlands and Tasman.
A total fire ban means it is illegal to light or to cause a fire in the open and includes, but is not limited to, incinerators, burn-offs, campfires, fire pots and wood-fuelled barbecues.
The ban follows a severe heatwave warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology earlier this week, with temperatures in excess of 36 degrees forecast for greater Hobart.
