Firefighters in Tasmania are gearing up for a challenging week as they confront 16 separate wildfires in the state’s remote west, including one that has significantly affected a 1.6-kilometre stretch of the popular Overland Track. State Fire Commander Matt Lowe has identified three primary concerns: the Canning Peak fire, which directly impacts the Overland Track, as well as the Yellowband Plain and Mount Donaldson fires in the pristine Takayna/Tarkine region.
These fires ignited following a series of dry lightning strikes that swept across Tasmania a week ago, leading to the devastation of approximately 30,000 hectares of land. With high fire danger levels anticipated on Wednesday and Thursday, Commander Lowe warned that the unique terrain and vegetation in the area could facilitate rapid fire spread. “The fire will move quickly along the button grass before slowing as it enters wet forest,” he explained.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Matthew Thomas added to the urgency, forecasting north-easterly winds and maximum temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius for the region. “We could see gusts reaching 50-60 kilometres an hour on Wednesday, escalating to 60-80 kilometres an hour in parts of the west by Thursday, ahead of a cold front expected late that day,” Thomas stated.
While the conditions remain perilous, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon, with rain predicted for the western parts of the state—5-10mm on Thursday and between 5-15mm on Friday and Saturday, with some areas potentially receiving up to 20mm. Firefighters remain on high alert as they continue their battle against these destructive blazes.
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