Tasmania's bushfire danger arrived suddenly. Here's how to prepare
The bushfire season has started with a vengeance in Tasmania. (Tasmania Fire Service)
Emergency bushfires broke out in Tasmania in a rush in early December.
It was a reminder of how quickly the state can change from rainy cold fronts and highland snow flurries in spring, to expanses of dry vegetation and high winds in summer.
The loss of houses in separate fires at Dolphin Sands and Stieglitz in the space of a week showed that all Tasmanians need to be vigilant and prepared for what's to come.
A home at Dolphin Sands that was destroyed by bushfire. (Supplied: Tasmania Police)
Michael Hoult's photo of the bushfire that was threatening north-east coastal communities on Tuesday. (Supplied: Michael Hoult)
What is the immediate bushfire outlook?
Fire authorities are expecting changeable wind conditions for the Stieglitz fire, which is common for coastal areas.
It means the more predictable afternoon period is key to working on containment lines.
The fire danger rating is expected to remain at "moderate" throughout the weekend for much of Tasmania, including the east coast, and at "high" for the midlands on Friday.
Stronger winds are expected on Friday for much of Tasmania.
The TasALERT page has the most up-to-date information and mapping.
Ned Bramich's photo of the bushfire near Dianas Basin, in Tasmania's north-east, on Tuesday. (Supplied: Ned Bramich)
What is the longer-term bushfire outlook?
The Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) is expecting a "normal" fire season, but that doesn't mean there's no risk.
A normal fire season means multiple serious fires could occur, as has been seen with the east coast fires.
"As we move through January and February when the vegetation is cured, the risk will be a lot worse for the community," TFS deputy chief Matthew Lowe said.
"That's why we are asking the community to prepare, it's a shared responsibility to prepare their properties, make sure they have their bushfire plan ready and tested."
Fire crews extinguishing the remnants of the Dolphin Sands fire. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)
What can I do to help?
The best way to help during a fire emergency is to stay away from the area, including for those who want to provide donations and food relief.
"There are firefighting operations in the area, we don't want people getting in the road of firefighters," Tasmania Police Inspector Luke Manhood said.
"The conditions are also very dangerous.
"We've got powerlines that are down, we've got trees that have fallen, trees that are at risk of falling."
Police have pleaded with people desperate to check on properties to wait until the official word is given. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
The local council and relief agencies on the ground in the area will coordinate relief efforts, and are the best place to contact if you wish to donate goods or offer financial assistance.
For the Stieglitz fire, the Break O'Day Council has set up a register for offers of support. It can be contacted by phone on (03) 6376 7900.
The Tasmanian and federal governments have announced emergency grants for those affected by the Dolphin Sands bushfires. The grants include:
- Temporary Living Expenses Grants of up to $11,650 per household for households unable to reside in their principal place of residence.
- Replacement of Household Items Grants of up to $11,650 per household for households that have incurred substantial loss of essential personal household items.
- Repair and Restoration Grants of up to $11,650 per household for households that have incurred substantial property damage.
- Essential Services Outage Grants for households that are subject to power outages of five days or more.
In addition, both levels of government will jointly fund clean-up assistance for the removal of debris from residential properties to make them safe and habitable.
Details can be found on the Tasmania Bushfire Support — Emergency Assistance Grants December 2025 website.
The Tasmania Fire Service offers resources and information about bushfire preparedness. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
What can I do now to prepare?
The Tasmania Fire Service website has a range of resources on how to protect properties and how to prepare a bushfire plan.
A plan will include what to do during bushfire risk conditions and how early you will decide to leave, who to tell, where to go, what to pack, how to prepare animals and whether you will stay and defend your property.
Some residents chose to stay to defend their properties during the Stieglitz fire.
Some Stieglitz residents chose to stay and defend their properties. (Supplied: Aaron Gornalle)
"[They] heeded messaging from the TFS that if their property is defendable and it's safe to do so, then that's one option that residents have,"TFS incident controller David Casteller said.
The TFS also has maps for every built-up locality in Tasmania that show designated "nearby safer places", and key community infrastructure.
Loading...Large clearings — between 40 and 425 metres away from flammable vegetation, depending on conditions — can also be used as safer places as a last resort, with gravel, dirt, concrete or lawn preferred.
To prepare for the fire season, residents should have pruned shrubs and ensured grasses are kept short around properties, cleaned out gutters, and moved wood piles away from houses.
This advice can also be found on the TFS website.
The sky turned orange during the bushfire threat at Queenstown, on Tasmania's west coast, earlier in 2025. (Supplied: Joy Chappell)
How do bushfire warnings work?
Once a bushfire starts, there are three main warning levels.
An "advice" warning means that a fire is burning, but there is no immediate danger. Bushfire plans should be reviewed at this stage.
A "watch and act" warning means conditions are changing, and residents should start taking action to protect themselves and others, including the potential of implementing a bushfire plan.
An "emergency" warning means residents may be in imminent danger and need to take immediate action.
Smoke from a bushfire burning at Port Latta, in far north-west Tasmania, in March 2024. (Supplied: Tyrone Lee)