Smoke: The warning and the reality

The number of large fires left burning in this state are a definite worry when weather conditions can change for the worst at anytime.

Recently, total fire bans were declared while these fires were in progress. In addition, current permits to burn were in place according to the Tas. Fire Service.

With the establishment of large scale plantations in Tasmania the risk of a wildfire is very real. Containment lines are regularly breached.

The people that put their lives at risk to go out and fight these fires do a fantastic job but it seems those in-charge just have to have fires going. Why don’t they get on and put them out. If they don’t have the resources who have they told? Surely they would not want to be before a Commission of Enquiry as a result of these fires not being extinguished.

The York Town fire that threatened Beaconsfield was first reported on January 2 but was not declared to be ‘out’ until January28 after burning more than 3050 hectares.

And of course, where there is fire there is toxic smoke.

The Fire Service website warns about the dangers of smoke from bushfires and planned burns and yet they allowed us to be subjected to pernicious smoke all this time when Tasmania has the highest rate of asthma in Australia.