THE Tasmania Fire Service has declared a total fire ban for Southern Tasmania for tomorrow (Saturday). “With hot temperatures and strong winds forecast for tomorrow, and the fire danger rating reaching Extreme in some parts of the state, a total fire ban has been declared,” TFS chief officer Dermot Barry said.
The total fire ban will be in effect for the south of the state, from 2am on Saturday, February 26, until 2am on Sunday, February 26. “From 2am tomorrow morning, no fires will be permitted in the open, including incinerators, burn-offs, campfires, fire pots, and wood-fuelled barbecues,” Mr Barry said.
“Operators of machinery must comply with ‘Machinery Operations Guidelines – A basis for safe work in dry vegetation’ which can be found on the TFS website. This requires shutdown of operations when certain conditions are reached. Operators not following these guidelines are required to cease operations for the duration of the Total Fire Ban.”
“Tasmania Fire Service and our fire partner agencies, Parks and Wildlife and Sustainable Timber Tasmania, will have aircraft and incident management teams on standby and prepared across the state for any fires. People living in a bushfire-prone area are urged to prepare their property, review their bushfire survival plan, and keep up-to-date on changing conditions as the warm weather progresses.
“If anyone doesn’t already have a bushfire survival plan prepared, now is the time to do a ‘5-minute bushfire plan’ – a template is available on the TFS website. It is especially important if you and your family are in unfamiliar locations, for example camping or visiting friends.”
“As a preventative measure, any landowner who has recently had a fire on their property is urged to check the fire area immediately to ensure it is properly extinguished before the total fire ban comes into effect.”
Anyone who sees a fire in the open over the coming days is urged to report promptly to Triple Zero (000). More information on Total Fire Bans and incidents can be found at www.fire.tas.gov.au.
For all TFS bushfire warnings and alerts visit TasALERT.com or listen to ABC Local Radio.
TOTAL FIRE BAN QUICK LINKS
Tasmania Fire Service alerts and incidents: Click for updates.
Weather warnings: Click for updates.
General advice for days of Total Fire Ban: From Tasmania Fire Service
Water use during Total Fire Bans: Advice from TasWater
Road closures: Click for updates.
New Norfolk and National Park tip sites: Closed due to total fire ban. Click for updates.
Local weather forecasts:
