Downgrade of some Riveaux Road fire warning levels today

Due to easing fire weather conditions in some areas of the Riveaux Road bushfire, some issued emergency warnings have been downgraded.

The details and rationale for the downgrade for each area is provided below and Tasmania Police will provide further information about road closure arrangements.

This information is current at 1pm on 31 January 2019, and the warning levels could change at any time as the threat level changes.

In summary:

For areas to the south of Geeveston, two alerts have been downgraded due to an easing of the fire risk.
North of Geeveston the existing Emergency Warnings remain in place. This is due to the proximity of those communities to the fire, localised erratic fire behaviour or the fact that wind continues to push the fire in their direction.
Huonville remains at Advice.

Dover:
- Downgraded to Advice level from Watch and Act:
- Based on a change in current and predicted weather conditions, including wind direction.

Waterloo, Surges Bay, Brooks Bay, Glendevie and Police Point:
- Downgraded to Watch and Act from Emergency Warning:
- Based on current and predicted weather conditions including wind directions. Note, the fire is approximately 2 km from Glendevie and the Huon Hwy, therefore a small change in weather conditions including wind direction may change the alert level and compromise the Glendevie community and the Huon Highway.

Geeveston:
- Remain at Emergency Warning:
- Based on continued threat to residents in this area from erratic fire behaviour and changing weather conditions including wind direction. The bushfire has created a 'horseshoe' shape around Geeveston, therefore, changes in wind direction and weather conditions has potential to threaten the area quickly.

Castle Forbes Bay:
- Remain at Emergency Warning:
- Based on close proximity of the main fire to this area as well as the erratic fire behaviour.

Franklin:
- Downgraded to Watch and Act from Emergency Warning:
- Based on the current and predicted weather conditions and distance of the fire to Franklin.

Huonville:
- Remain at Advice level:
- Based on current and predicted safe distance to the fire and weather conditions.

Glen Huon and Judbury:
- Remain at Emergency Warning:
- Based on current and predicted weather conditions including wind direction and proximity of fire to townships.

Lonnavale:
- Remain at Emergency Warning:
- Based on observed erratic fire behaviour and ember attacks, current and predicted weather conditions including wind direction and proximity of fire to township.

Visit www.police.tas.gov.au/community-alerts for current road closures and how these road closures impact on residents in the area.