Tough day for Tassie Emergency Services

Today was another tough day across Tasmania's fire fronts and another blaze added to the battle 

Fire crews from Tasmania Fire Service, Parks and Wildlife and Sustainable Timber Tasmania, supported by personnel from interstate and New Zealand continue to battle 28 fire across the state.

TFS is urging people in bushfire affected areas to leave early because it is the safest option.

The risk of staying was highlighted today when up to ten people were isolated by fire at Penstock Lagoon. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service were on scene and are assisting them until they can be relocated to safety. No one has been injured.

A fire also started near Blackman Hill, Murdunna today at around 12.30pm. Aircraft were able to slow the fires spread long enough to allow fire crews and heavy machinery to be both in to begin containment lines. This work will continue throughout tomorrow. The investigation into this fire has been handed to Tasmania Police.

The fires in the Huon Valley and Central Plateau, the Gell River fire, and fires near Zeehan and Rosebery remain at warning levels.

Elsewhere in the state TFS and partner agencies are also working to contain a number of fires.

At Murchison River in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, remote area firefighters working in arduous conditions have had success in containing that fire.

Efforts to protect world heritage values from Anne Gorge to Mount Bobs from the Riveaux Road fire continue.

Critical communications infrastructure at Tim Shea is being successfully protected from the Gell River fire.

Significant effort put in for weeks to protect Churchill's Hut was unsuccessful today. The hut was destroyed by fire when conditions became unsafe for firefighters who had to leave the area. The sprinkler system similar to that which protected Lake Rhona's sensitive vegetation earlier in the month, was not able to stop the fire from impacting the hut.

At Lake Augusta, remote area crews have completed a 6km containment line to help slow the Great Pine Tier fire from reaching the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

A total fire ban remains in place until 2am Thursday morning.

 TFS Advice

• Heed TFS warnings and advice
• Plan what you will do if there is a bushfire in your area
• Continue to report unlisted fires to TFS by calling Triple Zero
• Listen to Local Radio and visit fire.tas.gov.au for the latest bushfire information and advice.

Impact assessments in the Huon area will be conducted as soon as safely possible. Assessments have been hampered by smoke and dangerous trees.

Confirmed property loss to date:

1 x shack (Great Pine Tier fire)
Lake Laura Hut (3x3m fishers hut, Great Pine Tier fire)
Kayak shed (Riveaux Road fire)
3 x houses at Glen Huon (Riveaux Road fire)
Shipping container (Braeside Road, Castle Forbes Bay - Riveaux Road fire)
10km fencing (Great Pine Tier fire)
Shed (Waddamana - Great Pine Tier fire)