Severe Bushfire Alert Issued for Tasmania's West Coast
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Synopsis
A severe bushfire alert has been issued for Tasmania's west coast, particularly affecting Granville Harbour. Residents are urged to evacuate due to the approaching fire that poses significant risk. Emergency services are actively engaged in firefighting efforts as conditions remain volatile.
Key Takeaways
- High risk bushfire warning issued for Tasmania.
- Granville Harbour residents advised to evacuate.
- Fire poses significant danger to properties and lives.
- Emergency services are deployed to manage the situation.
- Natural and human causes contribute to bushfire outbreaks.
Sydney, Feb 14 (NationPress) A severe warning has been announced for an uncontrolled bushfire raging on the western coast of the Australian island state of Tasmania.
Residents of the small coastal locality of Granville Harbour were advised on Friday to evacuate immediately if they were unprepared for the danger posed by the fire, situated in a densely wooded area approximately 13 km to the north.
An emergency alert issued by TasAlert indicated that the relentless fire was advancing southward and was predicted to place Granville Harbour in significant peril.
"Embers, smoke, and ash might descend upon Granville Harbour and its vicinity, endangering you and your property even before the primary fire reaches," it warned.
Over 70 properties in Granville Harbour experienced power outages, with lengthy delays anticipated before electricity services could be reinstated.
Local resident Grant Hodge shared with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television that the sky appeared like a "volcanic eruption" on Thursday night.
Those who decided to evacuate were directed south towards a nearby evacuation center. The fire has severed the only primary route to the north, while a second uncontrollable fire to the east has blocked the only road in that direction.
The eastern fire has also prompted an evacuation alert for the town of Zeehan, located 25 km east of Granville Harbour, on Thursday night.
Scott Vinen from the Tasmania Fire Service informed ABC that the fire approached within four km of Zeehan, although conditions had improved. More than 50 firefighters and 30 aircraft were deployed to tackle the blazes, Vinen stated.
Residents of Corinna, located between the two fires, were instructed to seek shelter, according to Xinhua news agency.
Bushfires can be ignited by natural events, such as lightning strikes, or by human activities (whether accidental or intentional). Weather and fuel conditions contribute to the occurrence of bushfires. Organic materials like leaf litter, bark, small branches, twigs, grasses, and shrubs can serve as fuel for these fires.
