Total fire ban declared for southern Tasmania
A total fire ban is in place for southern Tasmania - the first time the state has had a fire ban in September.
With today's temperature expected to reach 28 degrees Celsius and wind gusts already exceeding 100 kilometres an hour, the Tasmanian Fire Service (TFS) is on bushfire alert earlier than expected.
"From my memory and understanding this is the first time we've gone so early with a total fire ban," said TFS chief officer Mike Brown.
"Many Hobartians will remember on the eastern shore as early as the 6th of October in 2006 we had serious fires then and we had a total fire ban declared for that.
"But to declare a total fire ban for September is a first for us, I believe."
Mr Brown said it was worrying to see such conditions so early in the year.
"We're carefully monitoring the weather conditions right across the state at the moment," he said.
"We've noticed that the East Coast is very dry for the time of year.
"So it's the East Coast, South-East and Derwent Valley that's the most affected with these very high fire weather conditions."
A cold front is expected to cross the state late this afternoon.
