Media release – Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, 20 October 2023

Campfire restrictions to apply in national parks and reserves

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) will ban campfires, pot fires and other solid fuel stoves at high-risk campgrounds across a number of parks and reserves from 02:00AM on Saturday 21 October.

The restrictions will be in place until further notice.

Tasmania has experienced a very warm winter and conditions are much drier than usual, particularly in the south-east of the state. Climate drivers suggest this drying pattern is set to continue for the remainder of the year, with a high chance of unusually warm and dry conditions and a high chance of unusually high fire dangers for this period and into summer.

To date, the 2023 rainfall totals have been below average for much of the south-east corner of Tasmania, with the lowest winter rainfall on record across parts of the Tasman Peninsula.

There is significant deep layer soil dryness on the west coast of the state and across the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, due to years of rainfall deficiency. Fine fuel load is significant on the east coast due to successive wet seasons allowing for significant vegetation growth. Curing grass is likely to present a grass fuel hazard over the next few months.

The seasonal campfire restrictions apply to all national parks and reserves:

  • on King, Flinders and Maria Islands
  • in the Dorset, Break O’Day, Glamorgan/Spring Bay, Sorell, Tasman, Kingborough and Huon Valley municipalities
  • Narawntapu National Park
  • Snaky Creek Conservation Area
  • Tooms Lake Conservation Area

Gas stoves and gas barbecues will be permitted.

PWS State Fire Manager Katy Edwards said the seasonal campfire restrictions are put in place to help protect visitors and communities.

“Our priority is community and visitor safety and preventing bushfires from starting. Eliminating abandoned, escaped or poorly-constructed campfires is part of our community and visitor safety strategy,” she said.

“We want to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable camping experience and appreciate assistance from visitors and the community in complying with fire restrictions.”

Last year there were 94 reports of unattended or illegal campfires on PWS managed land.

Keep up to date with the latest alerts: www.parks.tas.gov.au/alerts.

 

Media release – Tasmania Fire Service (TFS), 20 October 2023

Fire Permit Period for northern Tasmania to commence tomorrow

Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) has declared that fire permits will be required for northern municipalities from 2am on 21 October 2023.

“Following analysis of conditions, fire permits are being declared for northern municipalities from 2am tomorrow morning,” said TFS Deputy Chief Officer, Matt Lowe.

Northern municipalities are Break O’Day, Dorset, Flinders, George Town, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, West Tamar.

“To implement measures to allow us to mandate and monitor fires to mitigate the risk of bushfires as best as possible, we’re starting the Fire Permit Period for northern municipalities from tomorrow.”

“From 2am tomorrow, any landowner wishing to conduct a burn larger than 1 cubic metre in size on their property will require a Fire Permit.”

Fire Permits are free and contain clear conditions that will ensure any burn is conducted as safely as possible. Landowners can obtain a Fire Permit by contacting their local brigade or calling 1800 000 699.

“To determine when to declare a Fire Permit Period we consider a number of factors including the soil dryness index.”

“As we have seen this season – conditions can differ across the state, which results in a different start date for the Fire Permit Period for each Region.”

Fire Permit Period per Region:

  • Southern Region – Commenced 2am, Tuesday 3 October 2023
  • Northern Region – Commencing 2am, Saturday 21 October 2023
  • North-West Region – Not yet declared.

“The recent bushfires at Coles Bay and Flinders Island are a very real reminder that it’s imperative people are prepared and have a plan to keep safe if their community is threatened by a bushfire.”

“If you don’t have a Bushfire Plan, visit our website – fire.tas.gov.au – and do one today.”

For further information about:

  • Fire Permit Periods, Community Bushfire Protection Plans, and details on how to prepare for bushfire season, visit www.fire.tas.gov.au
  • Warnings and Alerts, visit tasalert.com and listed to ABC Radio
  • For Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service campfire restrictions visit, https://parks.tas.gov.au/