The City of Hobart is warning residents to prepare for a long, hot bushfire season as its fire crews spend today running through drills that include fitness tests, fuel reduction burns and training scenarios.
"Conditions have been dry across Tasmania and we expect that to remain the case throughout spring and summer now the Bureau of Meteorology has declared an El Nino event for Australia," Lord Mayor Councillor Anna Reynolds said.
"Accelerating climate change has also been fuelling dangerous fire weather across the world, and that includes Tasmania."
The City of Hobart employs more than 20 staff who undertake planned burns and help reduce flammable bushfire fuels in the forests that surround Hobart.
"We spend about $2 million annually preparing for bushfire, including maintaining 112 kilometres of fire trails and a large network of fuel breaks designed to help reduce the risk to Hobart from dangerous bushfire," Cr Reynolds said.
"Our fire crews also carry out fuel reduction burns and have spring burns planned for South Hobart, Ridgeway, Lenah Valley and the Queens Domain.
"Over the past five years the City has carried out fuel reduction burns across more than 400 hectares of public bushland in Hobart and takes every opportunity to safely implement its burn program.
"We make significant efforts to prepare for the upcoming bushfire season and urge the community to do the same.
"It is important to prepare your home and family for bushfire by cleaning out gutters, removing flammable plants that are close to your house, ensure you have a plan to leave early, and monitor the fire danger rating forecast.
"Make sure you have a bushfire plan, talk about it with family, friends and neighbours, clear up your property and prepare an emergency kit.
"Know when to leave your property, well before a bushfire puts you and your family in danger and know where to go."
Scan to plan
• Residents can learn how to create a bushfire plan by visiting the Tasmania Fire Service website: bushfire.tas.gov.au
