A fire burning close to properties today at Forcett, in Tasmania's south-east. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE
RESIDENTS have told how close they came to a homeless Christmas as strong winds continue to fan bushfires in central and southern Tasmania.
Bushfires were still burning out of control tonight at Poatina on the Central Plateau.
Blazes at Forcett near Sorell in the South-East, Glen Huon and Geeveston in the Huon Valley, Glenlusk near Collinsvale, Musselroe Bay in the North, and at south Bruny Island were closer to being contained.
Strong north-westerly winds overnight on Friday and earlier today whipped the flames into life, causing particular danger to residents at Glenlusk, Geeveston and Forcett.
No properties were considered to be in immediate danger last night but residents were urged to remain alert.
Glenlusk resident Phil Cooper saw the flames roar to within metres of his property before fighting them back with the help of volunteer firefighters.
"It came all the way to my back fence but I always make sure my property is well cleared and prepared, so I was pretty confident we would be all right," he said.
Mr Cooper said the fire started around 6pm on Friday and backburning operations had it under control by 10pm, but the hot dry winds overnight fanned the flames back to life this morning.
"There were three fire trucks in my yard and the firies were pleased to have such an easily defendable spot to fight the fire from," he said.
"We took the brunt of it, which probably helped save a lot of houses here because the fire had to get past my place first."
Mr Cooper has lived in the Glenlusk area his whole life and has survived three bushfires there, including the 1967 bushfires.
"I was a teenager then and we defended our house then as well. I'm the third generation property owner here," he said.
The fire at Glenlusk was contained on three sides yesterday afternoon but jumped the Old Collinsvale Rd containment line and was still burning in steep, inaccessible terrain.
Tasmania Fire Service state operations acting district officer Andrew McGuinness said the strong north-westerly and westerly winds made for extremely difficult firefighting conditions but no properties had been lost in any of the bushfires late today, only humpies and sheds at Glen Huon.
"We had in excess of 30 crews out there today, that's well over 100 firefighters -- 90 per cent of them are volunteers -- plus 30-40 people in management teams statewide," he said.
"We've seen a great effort out there from the firefighters, with many teams working in very difficult terrain, and it's great that they have been able to prevent further losses."
The state's biggest blaze, at Poatina, has burned more than 6000ha since it was first reported on Thursday.
The area is sparsely populated and all residents and campers have been evacuated.
"That one's likely to burn for a week unless we get considerable rain on Monday or Tuesday," Mr McGuinness said.
"It's unlikely to be contained in the next two or three days because it's difficult to contain it or lock it in."
Windy conditions eased tonight but residents at Glenlusk, Forcett, Glen Huon, Geeveston, Poatina and south Bruny were advised to keep an eye on conditions and check frequently for updates.
Some fires appear to have been deliberately lit and are under investigation.
For the latest updates, click here or listen to ABC Local Radio.
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