Arabic version: تسمانيا تستعد لخطر حرائق مرتفع وشديد

According to ABC News, Tasmania is facing elevated fire danger this weekend as high temperatures, dry air and windy conditions combine, with high fire danger forecast for much of the state on Sunday and extreme conditions predicted in small pockets of Hobart’s eastern shore.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the north-east, east coast, midlands, upper Derwent Valley, south-east and western districts are expected to face high fire danger. King Island and the Furneaux Islands are also included. Senior meteorologist Matthew Thomas said Hobart could reach 27C on Sunday, while Launceston is forecast for 22C and St Helens for 23C.

Mr Thomas said conditions would be at their “windiest, their hottest and their driest” from around midday on Sunday through the afternoon and early evening. Tasmania Fire Service deputy chief officer Matt Lowe urged residents to use caution with fire and said the service was strongly discouraging people with registered burns from continuing those activities.

There are no restrictions on barbecues, campfires, incinerators, burn-offs or other regulated activities, but the TFS has asked people to take sensible precautions. Mr Lowe urged people to check fires lit in recent days or weeks, including campfires, burn-offs and fire pits, and ensure they are fully extinguished by soaking, stirring and soaking again.

The TFS, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and Sustainable Timber Tasmania will have extra firefighting personnel and equipment on stand-by. Residents are encouraged to review their bushfire survival plans and keep up with warnings. Under the Australian Fire Danger Rating System, high-rated bushfires can be dangerous, while extreme conditions can cause fires to spread quickly and become extremely dangerous.