After days of intensive firefighting operations, six fires burning across Tasmania’s West Coast have been successfully contained.
Tasmania Fire Service Deputy Incident Controller James Newstead said suppression efforts are returning positive results, but warned the situation remains “dynamic”.
“Due to our coordinated response using both aerial and ground assets we have been able to close four fires at Queens Head, Mount Black, Parsons Hood and Trial Harbour Road,” he said.
“We have also contained a further six fires, which are now being patrolled at Huskisson Drive, Lake Pieman, Exe Creek, Main Rivulet (Savage River), Corrina Road (Savage River) and Robinson Street (Zeehan).”
Efforts are now concentrated on blazes at Mount Donaldson, Canning Peak, Yellowband Plain and Mount Meredith.
“While we are currently seeing promising results from our firefighting efforts, we are expecting high fire dangers to return across the state next week and we need people to remain alert and prepared,” he said.
“Your home is more likely to survive a bushfire if you have prepared it properly. Don’t wait until it’s too late, prepare now and make sure you have a bushfire plan in place.”
Parks and Wildlife have implemented closures of the Overland Track, Sandy Cape 4WD track and Mount Donaldson tracks in response to the ongoing fires.
Deputy Incident Controller Richard Dakin said firefighters are mindful of the “cultural significance” within affected areas.
“… We have an Aboriginal Liaison Officer embedded in our incident management team whose guidance is helping to inform our operational planning,” he said.
“Thankfully the fire is currently well away from significant coastal sites and we have plans in place to assist in protecting them if needed.”
