Bushfire briefing

MOLESWORTH residents have been urged to remain vigilant over the next few days while fire crews continue to tackle the large bushfire that has been burning uncontrolled since Wednesday afternoon. Addressing a community meeting at New Norfolk earlier today, Tasmania Fire Service senior station officer Phil Douglas said authorities know "to within one metre" of where the fire started on Glen Dhu Rd and its cause is under investigation.

Mr Douglas said cooler conditions today and tomorrow would allow more direct fire suppression to be carried out. The western side of the fire is of most concern to the fire service and while it did not pose an immediate threat to Lachlan Mr Douglas urged people in that area not to drop their guard.

The fire service is also keeping a watchful eye on the Malbina area, where the fire has reached about 500m the Transend power lines that supply Hobart, but there is no immediate threat to that infrastructure, Mr Douglas said.

Mr Douglas said the Molesworth fire was behaving unpredictably and in some cases was going against the wind. He said early morning and mid-afternoon were the main periods of concern each day and he urged anyone seeing a new fire start to call Triple Zero.