Sydney: A high-risk bushfire warning has been issued for Tasmania’s west coast due to an uncontrollable fire spreading in a densely forested area about 13 km north of the small coastal community of Granville Harbour. Residents have been urged to evacuate within hours if they are not prepared for the imminent threat posed by the fire, which is moving southward and putting Granville Harbour at significant risk.
TasAlert has issued an emergency warning, indicating that embers, smoke, and ash may descend upon Granville Harbour and its surroundings before the main fire reaches the area. More than 70 homes in Granville Harbour are currently without electricity, with lengthy delays anticipated for restoration.
Local resident Grant Hodge described the night sky on Thursday as resembling a “volcanic eruption.” Evacuees are advised to move south to a nearby evacuation center, as the fire has cut off the main road north and a second out-of-control fire has closed the road to the east.
The fire in the east has led to an evacuation warning for the town of Zeehan, located 25 km from Granville Harbour. Scott Vinen from the Tasmania Fire Service noted that the fire is within 4 km of Zeehan, although conditions have improved. More than 50 firefighters and 30 aircraft are currently deployed to manage the fires. Residents in Corinna, located between the two fires, have been instructed to seek shelter.
Bushfires can be ignited by natural events like lightning or human actions, either accidental or intentional. Weather and fuel conditions—such as leaf litter, bark, small branches, grass, and shrubs—significantly influence the occurrence of bushfires.