One of many properties razed yesterday at Dunalley. Picture: CHANNEL NINE
IMPROVED weather conditions will assist firefighting efforts across the state today but the threat from the devastating blazes is far from over.
The Tasmania Fire Service says the bushfire causing most concern is just south of Bicheno.
A short time ago an emergency warning was issued for the area and it is feared 12 properties may have already been lost.
The TFS has 24 firefighting crews and one water-bombing helicopter on site.
TFS incident spokesman Michael Watkins said the fire had now jumped the Tasman Highway, south of Bicheno, and prevailing winds were pushing it inland and making it very difficult to control.
The Tasman Highway is closed to all traffic at the Coles Bay turn-off.
"The TFS believes property has been lost at in the Courland Bay Rd area and is sending in crews to assess the damage," Mr Watkins said.
Community fire refuges have opened at the Bicheno Community Hall and the Swansea Football Ground.
The fire at Lake Repulse, in the Upper Derwent Valley, slowed down overnight and has been downgraded to a "watch and act" alert level.
Residents at Ellendale, Karanja, Lawrenny and Hamilton have been advised to remain vigilant. Mt Field National Park remains closed.
The massive bushfire that started in Forcett, in the state's south-east, on Thursday has destroyed at least 80 properties in Dunalley, Murdunna, Boomer Bay, Copping, Connellys Marsh, Dodges Ferry and Primrose Sands.
The TFS says the property count is expected to rise.
The fire has not been contained but has been downgraded to a "watch and act" level.
The Arthur Highway remains closed. While efforts are being made to reopen the only road to the Tasman Peninsula, police are unsure when this will happen.
At a briefing this morning, TFS chief officer Mike Brown said there had been no confirmed deaths as a result of the bushfires.
Mr Brown said yesterday's high winds and record high temperatures mirrored conditions on the day of the 1967 bushfire disaster.
"The conditions of yesterday were comparable with that terrible day. On that day we lost 2000 homes and 62 lives, so I think it speaks volumes for the really hard work that was done yesterday and our more advanced operational and warning systems that we are able to use," he said.
Mr Brown said the Forcett blaze was causing spot fires and ember attacks at Eaglehawk Neck and people in that area needed to either activate their bushfire plans or leave for a safer place.
"It will be days (before the fire can be controlled) because the fire is burning in many areas that are very difficult to get to. There's a lot of very heavy forest and heavy fuel," he said.
A boat arrived at Dodges Ferry this morning carrying 3000 meals, fuel, bottled water and ambulance and other health workers.
They will head to Nubeena, where they will distribute supplies and aid.
About 2000 people are sheltering at the community refuge centre at Nubeena, 600 people at Port Arthur and up to 100 people at the Dunalley pub.
Acting Police Commissioner Scott Tilyard said police were trying to source a generator for the Dunalley hotel.
"If they can get some power there I think they are planning on doing a community barbecue for people. People are bringing in meat that is going off in the freezer," he said.
"There's a great sense of community out there, people are helping each other and coming together as happens in these circumstances."
Acting Commissioner Tilyard said Aurora and Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources workers had been working to remove power lines and trees from the Arthur Highway in an effort to reopen the road.
'We're hopeful of … at some point in the near future at least having some form of escorted access for people -- particularly coming off the Tasman Peninsula -- during the day," he said.
Acting Commissioner Tilyard could not confirm when residents in affected areas would be allowed to return to their homes to assess the damage.
He said power outages had occurred across the Tasman Peninsula.
It is understood mobile transmission towers may also have been lost in the fire.
This was affecting communication between people in the area and their loved ones elsewhere.
"There are certainly many residences and areas that do not have power," he said.
People with mobile phones would have no means to recharge the batteries.
• A hotline is now open for people who cannot make contact with friends and family in bushfire-affected areas. The number is 132 500.
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