Updated – 2pm: The Tasmania Fire Service has upgraded its warning for a bushfire at Seven Mile Beach to Watch and Act, telling people to avoid the area.
The fire is travelling towards Sandy Point and is impacting now.
It is expected to be difficult to control.
The Tasmania Fire Service says embers, smoke and ash may threaten people and homes before the main fire arrives.
A bushfire burning at Seven Mile Beach is moving towards Sandy Point. Image / Pulse
It may become difficult to see and breathe.
Crews are on scene and conditions are expected to change.
A bushfire burning at Seven Mile Beach is moving towards Sandy Point. Image / Pulse
A bushfire burning at Seven Mile Beach is moving towards Sandy Point. Image / Pulse
A bushfire burning at Seven Mile Beach is moving towards Sandy Point. Image / Pulse
Residents are being told to take action now to protect themselves, their families and their homes.
Anyone with a bushfire plan should check it now.
People should decide early if they are going to leave and make sure they have a clear path to somewhere safer.
Those who are not prepared should be ready to leave, as homes may not be defendable.
Matt Lowe said a dual brigade response would apply to every incident across the state. Image / Pulse
The best option is to stay with family or friends, and people should only travel if it is safe to do so.
Earlier: A bushfire is burning at Seven Mile Beach and moving towards Sandy Point, with the Tasmania Fire Service telling nearby residents to keep a close watch on conditions.
An Advice warning is in place, meaning there is no immediate threat, but conditions are expected to change.
A second fire is also burning at Springhill Bottom Road at Colebrook, where an Advice warning has been issued.
The fire comes as Tasmania sweats through a brief warm spell between two rounds of severe weather.
Hobart was forecast to reach 27 degrees today, while Campania was the state’s hottest spot this morning at 25.9 degrees.
A high fire danger rating was forecast across King Island, the Furneaux Islands, the north-east, east coast, Midlands, upper Derwent Valley, south-east and western districts.
Tasmania Fire Service deputy chief officer Matt Lowe asked people to hold off on registered burns over the weekend.
“Strong winds and dry conditions mean fires can start easily and spread quickly,” he said.
Lowe said extra crews would be on standby.
“We’ll have dual brigade response for every incident across the state,” he said.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Matthew Thomas said the danger came down to a “combination” of “the hot, the dry and the windy conditions”.
Colder air is forecast for Monday, with Hobart dropping to around 14 degrees and snow falling to 400 metres in the south.
Lowe said anyone who sees smoke or flames should call Triple Zero immediately.
Updates are available on ABC Local Radio or at tasalert.com.