Looks like it's Tassie's turn to worry about Fire Bugs.
Residents have been evacuated from about 50 homes in and around Lefroy as a large bushfire threatens the north Tasmanian township.
The 672-hectare fire is north of Lefroy between Beechford Road and Douglas Road, with emergency services warning the area could quickly become under threat.
The Tasmanian Fire Service said the fire would be difficult to control and burning embers would threaten homes ahead of the main fire.
People with unprepared homes should go to a safer location, but only if the path is clear.
Acting deputy regional fire chief Neil Brookbank said an evacuation centre was being set up at George Town Memorial Hall at Regent Square.
"The residents in and around Lefroy need to ... monitor ABC radio and also monitor our Tasmania Fire Service website in case conditions change," he said.
"Currently the Lefroy township is being impacted by smoke and embers.
"Some residents have chosen to leave the area on their own accord."
"Plans in place, yep, [I've] got things packed," she said.
"Just grabbed a few essentials that I need, and my dogs, mainly, but yeah I'm fine."
Earlier TFS spokeswoman Linda Robbins said helicopters were water bombing the area.
"The winds are just starting to increase," she said.
"We're expecting the winds to increase steadily throughout the afternoon, which is another reason that we need people to make sure they monitor the ABC radio and the TFS website."
Bulldozers were building containment lines around the fire.
The cause of the blaze is not known.
K.J.
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From Coast to Coast, We'll see it all.......One Day
Hope all of our nomads travelling in Tassy are safe. Check the website links above - we had friends in Tassy who were evacuated at about 2 in the morning, (they were in a tent) due to nearby fires at Hamilton a couple of years ago. Scary stuff fires!!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)