Tas: Firefighters fear for Bicheno if blaze hits national park

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2006
Tas: Firefighters fear for Bicheno if blaze hits national park

HOBART, Dec 17 AAP - Firefighters fear a blaze raging out of control in north-east
Tasmania could engulf the coastal town of Bicheno.

The fire has so far burnt out about 20,000 hectares and destroyed 17 homes to the north
of the Douglas Apsley National Park.

Tasmania Fire Service spokesman Danny Reid said if the bushfire crossed Elephant Pass
and spread to the park, it could prove unstoppable.

Mr Reid said firefighters had no means of containing the blaze if it entered the rugged
national park.

"The St Marys-Scamander fire is just ugly, it's burning in really rough, inhospitable
country, access is difficult," he said.

Residents in an area bordering the park between Elephant Pass and Bicheno have been
put on high alert, although milder conditions were cause for some optimism today.

Firefighters were working around the clock to reinforce containment lines before the
hot weather returned on Thursday, he said.

"Our firefighters can do wonders but they can't beat the weather, that's the problem."

Meanwhile the Kellevie fire, east of Hobart, remained stable today. Mr Reid said containment
lines now ringed the fire but only a good downpour would put it out.

"The heavy fuel in the middles of the containment lines will burn for days yet until
we get some significant rainfall."

The fire has blacked out 12,000 hectares. Almost 70 firefighters were on site today
back-burning along the north-eastern edge of the blaze.

AAP cmb/it/jlw

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES TAS NIGHTLEAD

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