Tasmanian Bushfires Devour 90,000 Hectares, Prompting Evacuations

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Bushfires in western Tasmania have ravaged approximately 90,000 hectares of wilderness, threatening small communities such as Zeehan and Corinna. The fires, ignited by dry lightning strikes on February 3, are projected to persist for several weeks as firefighting efforts are hampered by challenging terrain and strong winds, which could reach up to 80 km/h over the weekend, according to Jeremy Smith, Tasmania’s commissioner for fire and emergency services.

By late Friday, over 20 active fires had formed a perimeter of roughly 1,200 km across the state’s north-west. While many residents evacuated, including Ali Collier and her children, reports indicate that some began returning as immediate threats subsided. Approximately 90% of the impacted land belongs to national park or wilderness reserves, with the Overland Track experiencing significant damage. Brendon Clark, liaison officer with Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife, noted that an ancient grove of Huon pine trees appears untouched.

Authorities have mobilized additional firefighting crews and aircraft, emphasizing that containment efforts will require intensive, manual labor in the rugged landscape.

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