Vic: Tasmanian fire crews home by Christmas

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2006
Vic: Tasmanian fire crews home by Christmas

By Xavier La Canna

MELBOURNE, Dec 22 AAP - Tasmanian fire crews should be home in time for Christmas after
weather changes helped dampen the state's bushfires that have destroyed 17 dwellings.

Tasmanian Fire Service district officer Jeff Knight said up to 20mm of rain had fallen
on the fires overnight and humid conditions today also had helped.

He said that while the St Mary's-Scamander fires, which have burned 28,600 hectares,
were still not under control, properties previously thought to be in danger were today
considered safe.

"We are hoping to have all crews home by Christmas. We are starting to put in place
our decamping plans today," Mr Knight said.

Containment lines were last night put in place around the entire fire in Kellevie,
which has burned nearly 15,000 hectares.

The fires, which have been burning in the state's northern and eastern areas, have
so far burnt out more than 45,000 hectares.

Mr Knight said 17 dwellings and three businesses had been destroyed since the fires
began about three weeks ago.

He said it was important tourists who had planned holidays on Tasmania's east coast
were not deterred by the fires.

"The east coast is open for business. The last thing those communities need is to lose
their income," he said.

He said Tasmania's fire emergency had showed the benefits of forward planning, and
justified the creation of a DVD on bushfire safety that was distributed to homes.

Meanwhile, a man from Penguin, on Tasmania's north-west coast, will be prosecuted after
lighting a fire in his backyard yesterday - a day of total fire ban.

The man could face a fine of up to $20,000.

AAP xlc/mh/grc/cdh

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES TAS NIGHTLEAD

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