Arabic version: حريق سيفن مايل بيتش يثير مخاوف بشأن عمليات الحرق الوقائي
According to ABC News, residents east of Hobart have questioned why a total fire ban was not imposed after a bushfire at Seven Mile Beach on Sunday, when hot and windy conditions raised fears that embers could reach nearby communities. The Tasmania Fire Service brought the fire under control on Sunday night, but it was still smouldering on Monday.
The blaze was about 15 kilometres east of Hobart, separated from Lewisham and Dodges Ferry by a body of water about 400 metres wide. Gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour were recorded near Hobart and the temperature reached 27.1 degrees Celsius. Lewisham resident Suzy Lebasi said residents were alert for embers, while Dodges Ferry resident Steve Lord said smoke became so thick he could not see Lewisham.
A burn-off had been registered on private land at Seven Mile Beach over the weekend, and some residents saw it taking place during the two days before the bushfire. However, the TFS said the cause of the fire remained under investigation. Fire investigators were due to begin work at the site, and the service said it was too early to comment on whether nearby land-management activities caused or contributed to the fire.
The TFS had held a press conference on Friday strongly discouraging people preparing registered burns from continuing those activities, as forecast fire danger ratings showed pockets of extreme and high danger for Sunday. The service said permit restrictions were generally seasonal administrative measures and were not normally applied or removed in response to individual weather events in the way a total fire ban could be.
TFS deputy regional chief John Holloway said about 60 fires were reported on Sunday, with many linked to burn-offs by people who were not prepared for the weather. He said landowners needed to monitor conditions and warnings, and remained responsible for damage caused by their fires. The TFS said smoke was the only expected impact on Dodges Ferry on Monday.
