Fires that have razed 90,000 hectares of Tasmanian wilderness, including parts of the famous Overland walking track, could burn for weeks as firefighters battle to contain blazes in remote terrain.
By late on Friday, more than 20 fires – which were sparked by dry lightning strikes on 3 February – had a combined perimeter of about 1,200km in the state’s north-west.
The fires follow similar outbreaks in the state’s wilderness area over the past decade as lightning strikes combined with heat and wind to create hazardous conditions. In 2018-2019 fires burned 2.9% of the state, killing nearly two-thirds of its tallest known trees.
Scientists say damage from fires caused by lightning strikes has increased dramatically since the start of the millennium, and is expected to continue to worsen as summers became hotter and drier.