In a joint multi-agency pre-bushfire season briefing in Launceston, which included Tasmania Fire Service, Parks and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Meteorology and Sustainable Timber Tasmania, the message is that despite a normal risk rating for spring, they are urging residents to take proactive measures.
This collaborative approach and public call to action is in their view crucial due to the potential for significant fire events, especially with a backdrop of below-average rainfall and forecasts for higher-than-usual spring temperatures, which could escalate the fire risk as the season progresses into summer.
Deputy Chief Officer Matt Lowe of the Tasmania Fire Service emphasised that a normal fire season outlook does not mean a low-risk season. He referenced the previous year’s normal rating, which still resulted in a major fire complex on the north west coast, burning over 100,000 hectares.
“A separate fire at Snug Tiers, south of Hobart, was contained to 500 hectares thanks to a rapid response,” he said.
Lowe advised that state fire agencies, police, and partners have convened for a fire season briefing to ensure equipment and training are up to date. He also confirmed that arrangements for interstate and international resourcing are in place for high-fire-danger periods. An independent review into last year’s northwest fires is scheduled for public release on 22 September 2025.
Senior Meteorologist Alex Melitsis shared the meteorological outlook, noting that Tasmania has experienced much below usual rainfall so far this year, especially in the western part of the state. Looking ahead to spring, he forecasts above-average rainfall for eastern and northern Tasmania, but predicts the west will remain drier, with near or below-average rainfall. Melitsis also stated it is highly likely that the state will experience above usual temperatures for the remainder of the year. He added that a forecast for less westerly winds will mean less rainfall and higher humidity for the western parts of the state.
The Tasmanian Government is investing $600,000 to upgrade the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service’s firefighting equipment with 34 new mobile units.
Media release – Tasmania Fire Service, 11 September 2025
KEY AGENCIES ASSESS BUSHFIRE OUTLOOK FOR TASMANIA
As Tasmania’s firefighters hope spring can deliver relieving rain to the state’s at-risk zones, residents are being urged to prepare their homes and properties now for the coming bushfire season.
Tasmania’s bushfire outlook for spring is rated ‘normal’, the latest data shows.
Key firefighting agencies Tasmania Fire Service, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and Sustainable Timber Tasmania were joined by the Bureau of Meteorology in Launceston on Thursday to assess the seasonal outlook, and agencies’ preparations, for spring bushfires.
Tasmania Fire Service Deputy Chief Officer Matt Lowe said while the state’s bushfire outlook for spring was rated ‘normal’ – similar to last year – that still carried the very real threat of bushfire.
“Normal means there is potential for one or two major fire campaigns in a season,” Deputy Chief Officer Lowe said.
“Bushfires will occur, and we must be prepared.”
“We were rated as normal last year and that resulted in one major fire event for the season with a total of 116,000 hectares burnt out across the state. The majority of that fire activity was in the north-west of the state, about 101,000 hectares, but there was also a significant fire south of Hobart at Snug Tiers, involving about another 500 hectares.”
Lowe said a potentially dry spring, following below average rainfall in winter, heightened concerns for the bushfire “shoulder season” between spring and summer.
“Spring rainfalls need to be significant to avoid widespread dryness developing across the state. If we don’t get that rainfall to return moisture to the environment and to the soil layers, then it certainly raises the potential of above-normal bushfire activity for late spring and early summer,” he said.
Lowe said firefighters were concerned that consecutive years of below average winter rainfall meant much-needed soil moisture recharge had not occurred.
Deep soil layers are particularly dry in the western half of the island and fire agencies would be keeping a close eye on the South West wilderness, he said.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Alex Melitsis said Tasmania was very likely to have higher than usual spring temperatures, with an increased chance of unusually warm days and nights
“During spring, parts of eastern and northern Tasmania have an increased chance of receiving above average rainfall however, some parts of the west are more likely to receive below average rainfall,” Melitsis said.
“It has been much drier than usual across much of Tasmania so far this year, particularly in the western half of the state.”
State Fire Manager for Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) Katy Edwards said the agency’s staff were integral to its bushfire response.
“The majority of fires in 2024-2025 started on PWS -managed land as a result of lightning strikes.
“Last bushfire season involved the West Coast complex fires as well as fires across the North-West, and fires at Snug Tiers, Maria Island and Deal Island,” Edwards said.
“PWS has over 160 fire personnel who are trained to fight fires in remote areas (arduous firefighters) and tanker-based firefighters (moderate firefighters).
These numbers also include 20 seasonal firefighters who are recruited each year to boost numbers for the fire season and to assist with planned burn operations. PWS also has about 60 people trained to undertake roles in incident management teams.
Sustainable Timber Tasmania Fire Manager Dean Sheehan said the organisation was well prepared for the upcoming fire season.
“Our fuel reduction program is already under way. Our fire crew roster will commence on October 1 and our network of smoke detection cameras will operate 24/7,” he said.
“We stand ready to respond alongside Tasmania Fire Service and Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service to protect forests and communities.”
Tasmania Fire Service has urged residents to prepare their homes and properties now for the spring and summer bushfire seasons, including developing a bushfire evacuation plan.
“While a normal bushfire risk is predicted for spring, continuing drier and warmer conditions will increase the bushfire risk as we approach summer,” Lowe said.
“That is why we need the community to be prepared, and to act now, and not wait until it could be too late.
“Know your risk, develop and practice bushfire plans, clean up yards and paddocks, clear roof gutters and remove flammable waste from around the home.”
Media release – Nick Duigan MLC, Minister for Parks, 11 September 2025
Upgrading Tasmania’s firefighting equipment for this bushfire season
Tasmania’s firefighting capabilities have been upgraded ahead of the upcoming fire season.
Minister for Parks, Nick Duigan, said the Tasmanian Government has invested $600,000 over two years to support Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service fire crews.
“We are delivering for Tasmania, with 34 redesigned next-generation mobile firefighting units have been constructed,” Duigan said.
“The new replacement units have been delivered and installed around the State from Huonville to Arthur River to St Helens, including Flinders and Bruny Islands.
“We know having the most up to date equipment to protect our natural assets is critical for our Parks fire crews as they get on with over 40 planned burns this season.”
The mobile firefighting units include the tank and pump that sit on the tray of 4WDs, converting them to firefighting vehicles.
“These are a significant upgrade with electric hose reels, larger lockers to store and protect equipment and forklift compatibility,” Duigan said.
“This will allow Parks to continue to carry out important fuel reduction work on reserved land and respond to bushfires.”
Minister Duigan said it was fantastic that Tasmanian company, Watson Engineering in George Town, was the primary supplier of the new units with other local companies fitting-out and supplying goods and services.
“I would also like to thank all our Parks staff involved in fire management, and all our emergency service personnel, the very best for the upcoming fire season,” Duigan said
Tasmanian Times (TT) is a community-based news and current affairs service covering the island state of Tasmania. It exists to provide a diverse presentation of Tasmanian issues. TT creates and supports independent media content utilising the best of modern technologies and tried-and-true practices of public-interest journalism.
Support us in expanding our coverage and developing new content by and for Tasmanians.
New initiatives on the way include … what our contributors and readers suggest! Please get in touch with your suggestions.
