THE Tasmania Fire Service was kept busy with a spate of vegetation fires around New Norfolk this afternoon as local temperatures reached around 30 degrees in places. The top temperature recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology was 30 degrees at Bushy Park while the official temperature at New Norfolk is not known because the BOM closed that weather station in 1983.
Crews from the Magra, New Norfolk, Lachlan, Bushy Park, Gretna, Molesworth, Bridgewater and Brighton fire brigades were involved in some or all of the following incidents, with aerial support in the case of the Back River Rd fire.
- 2.33pm: Vegetation fire at Back River Rd, Magra. Resources deployed: four heavy tankers, three medium tankers, four light tankers, two utilities, four helicopters and one fixed-wing aircraft. Latest status: being patrolled.
- 2.53pm: Vegetation fire at Ringwood Rd, Lachlan. Resources: one medium tanker and one medium tanker. Latest status: controlled.
- 2.56pm: Power pole fire at Lyell Highway, Sorell Creek. Resources deployed: heavy tanker. Latest status: controlled.
- 7.36pm: Vegetation fire at Millbrook Rise, Hobart Rd, New Norfolk. Resources: two heavy tankers, one medium tanker, three light tankers, one utility. Latest status: being patrolled.
Two warnings were issued in relation to the grassfire at Magra. At 3.15pm the Tasmania Fire Service issued a Bushfire Watch and Act warning for the Magra area, advising that there may be a risk of embers, smoke, and ash. At 3.53pm this was downgraded to Bushfire Monitor Conditions.
The TFS recommends that if there is any fire activity causing you concern to report it by calling 000.
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