Media Releases
| FIRE SITUATION UPDATE 20/11/2009 |
| Friday, 20 November 2009 4:00 PM |
| Diana's Basin Fire 20/11/2009 |
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| FIRE CHIEF ISSUES WARNING 20/11/2009 |
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| HOUSE FIRE, Sandy Bay 19/11/2009 |
| Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay
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| FIREFIGHTERS RUNNING HOT IN LAUNCESTON 12/11/2009 |
| Tasmanian Fire Brigades Competitions
State Championships |
| HOUSE FIRE, Gagebrook 10/11/2009 |
| Lockhart Street, Gagebrook
Tuesday, 10 November 2009 5:23 AM |
| GAS BBQ CYLINDER FIRE 02/11/2009 |
| Crawford Street, Mowbray |
| FIRE INCIDENT 18/10/2009 |
| Wrest Point Convention Centre
Sunday, 18 October 2009 7:15 PM |
Friday, 20 November 2009 4:00 PM
20/11/2009
Unexpected strong winds and high temperatures today caused a number of fires across the state to spread uncontrollably.
TFS brigades and crews from Parks and Wildlife and Forestry Tasmania responded to fires across the state.
The most serious of these fires started just after midday at Dolphin Sands near Swansea. By mid afternoon several TFS tankers were in attendance along with SES and a helicopter.
Early reports from the fire indicated that 2 residences may have been lost.
Aerial observers have just reported that one house and one other structure has been lost at Dolphin Sands. 8 crews are currently in attendance endeavouring to protect properties under difficult windy conditions.
20/11/2009
The Tasmania Fire Service has 6 crews in attendance at a vegetation fire in the Diana’s Basin area near St. Helens
The fire is a result of a hazard reduction burn undertaken by TFS yesterday.
Deputy Regional Chief Gavin Freeman said;
“Our crews have undertaken a strategic burn to reduce fuel loads in the area earlier in the week. Unfortuntaely the expected rain did not eventuate and with the strong winds today some embers have been picked up and taken the fire outside of our control lines. Crews have fallen back to other pre established control lines that were identified for a further burn planned for this weekend.”
TFS crews will commence backburning off control lines later in the day as the winds ease and will remain in attendance to patrol the fire this evening. There is no threat to property and crews on the ground are liaising with home owners in the area.
“While this is not the ideal way to complete a fuel reduction burn, there is always a chance of this sort of thing occurring when we take on this type of activity and that is why we have contingency plans in place” Gavin Freeman said.
Residents are advised to monitor ABC radio where any change to the situation will be broadcast.
20/11/2009
The Chief Officer, Mike Brown of Tasmania Fire Service encourages anyone who may see smoke today to report it to the Tasmania Fire Service on 000 immediately. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for parts of Tasmania with wind speeds predicted in some areas to exceed 100km per hour. If a fire should start particularly in some dryer bushland areas it would spread very quickly and behave erratically. People should not light any fires in the open and be vigilant in the use of machinery in the open.
TFS has initiated a hot day response which means twice the number of trucks and people are responded to each outbreak with a view toward keeping the fire small and extinguishing it as soon as possible.
There is no general cause for alarm and the TFS encourages people who live in or near the bush and who have prepared their homes and themselves to actively defend it to stay at home.
Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay
19/11/2009
At approximately 10.45 yesterday morning the Tasmania Fire Service received a 000 call from a property at Sandy Bay Road. A fire had started in a storage area under the carport. Two fire units from Hobart Fire Brigade responded to the call and arrived to find thick black smoke issuing from an adjoining carport at the front of the house.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze which was confined to the storage area, beneath the carport parking deck. Despite severe smoke damage to the front of the house, there was little fire damage.
A fire investigation was conducted and revealed that molten welding particles had ignited combustible materials in the storage area, under the carport. The cause of the fire was accidental.
FIREFIGHTERS RUNNING HOT IN LAUNCESTON
Tasmanian Fire Brigades Competitions
State Championships
12/11/2009
On Saturday the 14th November the Tasmanian Fire Brigades Competitions State Championships will take place on the Inveresk Park precint in Launceston.
It is expected that around 250 firefighters and their families will converge on Launceston to fight out for the title of State Champions. Events are open to both senior and junior competitors.
There will be a range of things to see on the day, as well as the firefighting competitions there will be rescue and technical displays, community safety displays and staff on hand to discuss what it takes to be a firefighter and how you can join.
The primary partner of TFS in staging this event is MBF Health and they will be on hand with information and free activitie including Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Checks as well as Kids activities. As a sponsor of the Hawthorn Football Club MBF Health have arranged for the Hawks express to be present as well.
The events and displays kick off at 0830 on Saturday and the The Hon Michelle O’Byrne Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage, Minister for Tourism and the Arts and Minister for Hospitality will officially open the championships at 1230.
Lockhart Street, Gagebrook
Tuesday, 10 November 2009 5:23 AM
10/11/2009
A second attempt has been made to an occupied house in Lockhart Street, Gagebrook at 03:43 am this morning.
Tasmania Fire Service crews from Bridgewater and Glenorchy arrived to find flames issuing from the front door and hall way, with two rooms at the rear of house fully engulfed in fire.
Investigations into the cause will be carried out by Police and Fire Service investigators this morning.
Damage estimated to be around $100 000.
Crawford Street, Mowbray
02/11/2009
The Tasmania Fire Service respond to a GAS BBQ on fire. On the crews arrival they found the cause to be missing 'O' ring on the regulator.
Now that the BBQ season is upon us, it is strongly recommended that you check the condition of your Gas Cylinder, the regulator and make sure the connections are tight.
Wrest Point Convention Centre
Sunday, 18 October 2009 7:15 PM
18/10/2009
At 5:31 Pm this afternoon, the Tasmania Fire Service responded to a fire alarm at the Wrest Point Convention Centre. The alarm was activated due to heat and smoke build up in a ceiling duct attached to cooking equipment.
On arrival, the crew found that the building had been successfully evacuated and the fire had been extinguished by the buildings sprinkler system, which caused some minor flooding as well. Smoke was visible through several areas of the convention centre as well as the casino, and was allowed to dissipate naturally.
Damage was found to be minimal and staff are currently re-establishing kitchen operations.
