Molesworth bushfire update

Tasmania Fire Service
Bushfire Watch & Act Message

Glen Dhu Road, MOLESWORTH

Current from:10/02/2013 11:19 AM    until:  12/02/2013 02:59 AM   or further notice

There is a large bushfire at Glen Dhu Road, MOLESWORTH.

The fire danger rating in this area is high. Fire under these conditions can be  uncontrollable and unpredictable  .

This fire may affect the communities of Ironstone Gully, Ringwood Rd, Mount Hull Rd, Collins Cap Rd, Suhrs Road, Valley Rd, Myrtle Forest Rd, Fehlbergs Rd, Old Springdale Rd, Springdale Road and Fairy Glen Rd. 

This bushfire is currently not controlled. This bushfire may create spot-fires ahead of the main fire. These spot fires may threaten your home earlier than the predicted main fire front.

There may be embers, smoke and ash falling on Ringwood Rd, Ironstone Gully, Suhrs Rd, Glenlusk, Collinsvale and Mount Wellington areas.

Roads may be affected by smoke and motorists are advised to drive carefully and turn on headlights.

Reported Road Closures:

• Glen Dhu Road and Ringwood Road are closed to the public (excepting residents)
• For up-to-date information on road closures for this fire refer to Tasmania Police website

What to do:

• Activate your Bushfire Survival Plan now
• If your home is well constructed, prepared and actively defended, it may provide shelter.
• If you don’t have a Bushfire Suvival Plan or your plan is to leave – leave now only if the path is clear.
• There is a Community Fire Refuge at Carinya Education Park next to 'New Norfolk High School, 103 Blair St.
• There are also Nearby Safer Places identified at Collinsvale War Memorial Hall at 14 Hall Rd and Malbina Cemetery at 100 Molesworth Rd.
• If you are away from home: Do not try to return to your home as the roads in this area could be highly dangerous.
• Non-residents should stay away from the affected areas.
• Monitor ABC Local Radio & TFS Website – www.fire.tas.gov.au for further instructions

 Community Information:

• The main fire activity is in the south west to southern area around Ringwood Trail to East-West Trail through to Collins Bonnet in very steep and inaccessible terrain.
• Crews with the assistance of machinery are working on the fire edge around the Ironstone Gully, Ringwood Road and Ringwood Trail area. Crews are also undertaking property protection at the bottom of Ringwood Trail.
• There is active fire around Collins Cap Rd with the junction of Suhrs Rd. This is not causing any immediate threat to residents, but residents need to remain vigilant.
• The fire in this area is producing a considerable amount of smoke and may be causing smoke and ash to be falling in many areas including the Northern Suburbs, Collinsvale, Molesworth and Mt Wellington.

Community Meetings

• Molesworth: Derwent Valley Sports Centre, Derwent Terrace, New Norfolk (near Boyer Oval), 1pm today (Sunday, February 10)
• Mountain River: Mountain River Community Hall, 263 Mountain River Rd, 3pm today (Sunday, February 10)

Advice to Glen Dhu Road residents
Glen Dhu Rd is open to residents, but closed to the public. Residents who are within this area need to be cautious of falling trees and branches and Aurora crews who are working within this area. There is still fire activity in this area with crews deployed to continue extinguishing and blackening out any fire edges. If there is any fire activity causing concern to these residents call Triple Zero.

Closure of Wellington Park walking tracks and trails
For up-to-date information on track and trail closures refer to Wellington Park website.

TFS Attending Resources:
Resources Arrived:
  6 x LIGHT TANKER
  5 x MEDIUM TANKER
  2 x HEAVY TANKER
  2 x TFS
  6 x PERSONNEL CARRIER
  1 x CAR

Resources Mobilised:
  1 x HEAVY TANKER
  1 x CAR
  2 x ROTARY WING: MEDIUM
  1 x PERSONNEL CARRIER
  1 x ROTARY WING: LIGHT