Bushfire situation near Maydena

Map showing the location of the Gell River fires (shaded grey).
Click image to enlarge.

CONTRARY to multiple posts on social media tonight, as of 11pm there has been no evacuation of the town of Maydena. Click here for updates on the local bushfire situation from the Tasmania Fire Service.

ADVICE ISSUED AT 8.45PM: There are bushfires at Gell River and around Lake Pedder. The Gell River fire started on December 28. The bushfire is now burning south of the Gordon River Rd at "The Needles". The fire may put Maydena, Tyenna, Mt Field and National Park at risk throughout the evening and into the morning. Fire under these conditions can be difficult to control. Burning embers, falling on Maydena, Tyenna, Mt Field and National Park may threaten your home before the main fire. Smoke and ash may make it difficult to see and breathe.

Earlier today, the TFS conducted a doorknock in Maydena to offer advice to residents. A spokesman has said this was not a call to evacuate, but to "watch and act". It was suggested to pack personal items into cars, and to have cars facing outwards in driveways, in order to be prepared if an evacuation is required.

Click here for updates on the MAYDENA/TYENNA/NATIONAL PARK bushfire situation
Click here for updates on the STRATHGORDON bushfire situation

Anyone wishing to voluntarily leave Maydena will be welcomed at the Derwent Valley Salvation Army Headquarters at 79 Hamilton Rd, New Norfolk. Phone 6261 2535 or see their Facebook page. When and if necessary, an official evacuation centre will be opened in New Norfolk.

In the event of an emergency, the Maydena Bike Park base building (the old primary school) on Kallista Rd is the community "safer place". This is not an evacuation centre but a place of last resort for those who do not have a bushfire survival plan, or their plan has failed, and there is an imminent threat of bushfire.

The Tasmania Fire Service has issued the following advice about a change in wind direction expected overnight:

ADVICE FOR BUSHFIRE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

A change in wind direction is forecast to cross the state in the very early hours of tomorrow morning, starting in the south east at about 1-2am. Cool southwesterly wind gusts up to 35km per hour are expected.

This means current bushfires will start moving in a northeasterly direction, turning the flank of the fire into a wide head of the fire (as explained in the graphic below).

People living to the northeast of these fires need to be prepared for the risk of active and unpredictable bushfires moving towards them, as well increased smoke and ash.

TFS advises you to:

🔴 Review your Bushfire Survival Plan.

🔴 If your home is not well prepared and you are unable to actively defend it, leaving early is the safest option.

🔴 If you decide to stay, that means staying awake and alert, patrolling the outside of your property and putting out spot fires.

🔴 Don’t wait until the fire is on your doorstep to prepare - that will be too late.

🔴 Report any new fires to TFS by calling Triple Zero.

🔴 Check the latest warnings on www.fire.tas.gov.au

The TFS issued this graphic to explain its fire terminology.
This is not a map of any particular fire.
Click image to enlarge.