Media release – DPFEM, 12 February 2025
Tasmania’s fire agencies continuing the bushfire response
Firefighters from Tasmania Fire Service (TFS), Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (PWS) and Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT) are continuing to work together to respond to a complex of bushfires on Tasmania’s west coast as high fire danger weather continues.
An emergency warning remains in place for Sandy Cape and surrounds.
State Fire Commander Jeremy Smith said assessments are taking place this morning to determine whether any built structures have been damaged.
“We have aircraft undertaking these assessments where possible, however low cloud cover is affecting our ability to gather this intelligence in some areas.”
“The high fire danger weather is continuing to present additional challenges for our firefighters.”
“We are focusing our efforts on protecting key assets, including infrastructure and cultural and natural values.”
“We have more than 50 remote area team firefighters, six bulldozers and 32 aircraft available to be tasked to these fires.”
“Yesterday evening we were able to reduce the emergency warning for Corinna to a watch and act warning, however this warning states that it is still not safe to return to the area at this stage.”
“A community ‘drop in’ session is being held in Zeehan today, for anyone who has evacuated from Corinna or is travelling through areas affected by bushfires.”
For further information and updates, visit the following websites:
https://bushfire.tas.gov.au/
http://www.bom.gov.au/tas/
https://www.tasalert.com for current warnings and advice
https://www.police.tas.gov.au/
https://parks.tas.gov.au/
Bushfire Watch and Act – Pieman Heads and surrounds – Be aware of ember attacks
This is a Bushfire Watch and Act message for Pieman Heads and surrounds.
There is an uncontrollable bushfire at Pieman Heads.
This fire is expected to put Pieman Heads and surrounds at High risk within the next 4 hours.
The fire is travelling towards Pieman Heads.
Embers, smoke, and ash may fall on Pieman Heads and surrounds and threaten you and your home before the main fire arrives.
Tasmania Fire Service, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and Sustainable Timber Tasmania is attending. Conditions are expected to be changeable.
What to do
If you have prepared your home and can actively defend it, it should provide shelter.
If you are going to leave, make sure you have a clear path to a safer place.
If your family has made a bushfire plan, use it now.
If you do not live near Pieman Heads and surrounds, stay away. The roads could be very dangerous.
For fire updates, listen to ABC Local Radio or visit tasalert.com
Community Information
For information on current road closures, visit the Tasmania Police website: police.tas.gov.au/community-
People at higher risk from the effects of smoke, including those with medical conditions, are advised to have a personal plan for avoiding smoke and managing their health. Advice is available from the Department of Health health.tas.gov.au/health-
If there is a fire and your plan is to evacuate or leave, the best option is to stay with family or friends.
Featured image above courtesy Jethro Bangay.
Media release – 12 February 2025
Call for latest drone technology to fight bushfires
Bob Brown Foundation says the state and federal governments should lead the world in implementing drone technology to fight multiple remote bushfires like those ignited by lightning in takayna / Tarkine last week.
The fires have since burnt out thousands of hectares of wild country and threatened ancient Huon pine groves as well as incinerating wildlife.
“Emerging drone technology using heat sensors promises to find fires even at night and douse them before they spread. Fires like those in Takayna now might be got at before they get away in the future,” Bob Brown said in Hobart today.
“Tasmania’s wild country is also its economic well-being. We should be at the forefront, worldwide, of implementing the new technologies in coming years.”
“The heating atmosphere means we will face worse bushfires in the years ahead and drone technology will become vital in earliest possible attention to fires, for example on kunanyi / Mt Wellington.”
“Governments should also end native forest logging which is a major source of greenhouse gasses and makes fires worse once they get going,” Brown said.
