Two bushfire emergency warnings have been issued for Nugent in south-east Tasmania, with some residents told it is now too late to leave.
In an alert issued just after 5pm Monday, the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) said an uncontrolled bushfire at Nugent, 45 kilometres north-east of Hobart, is travelling towards Nugent, between Masons Road, Nugent Road and Bezzants Road which is “expected to put lives in danger now”.
“It is too late to leave. Fire is threatening evacuation routes and leaving now will put your life in danger. You must take shelter before the fire arrives,” the TFS said.
“If the fire impacts, seek shelter in a solid structure such as a house to protect you from the heat of the fire.”
Another bushfire emergency warning for Nugent warns of a fire travelling towards Kellevie east of Nugent Road, between Bezzants Road and Crawlers Gully Road, which the TFS said was “expected to put lives in danger and may destroy homes now”.
People in that area are urged to leave now via Kellevie Road.
“Only travel if it is safe to do so,” the TFS said.
A map showing the bushfires in south-east Tasmania at 4pm, October 20, 2025. (ABC News: Magie Kameneh)
The TFS said thick smoke and showers of embers, which may cause spot fires, were expected.
“Spot fires may threaten your home before the main fire arrives,” the TFS said.
“Conditions are expected to worsen.”
A view of smoke from the fire at Nugent, Tasmania, October 20, 2025. (ABC News: Josh Duggan)
TFS deputy incident controller Kier Wilson told ABC Radio Hobart there were not many houses in the area, but the fire service had “significant concern” for some properties.
“We’ve got a severe weather warning for damaging winds in the area, so that’s making the fire impossible to control,” Mr Wilson said.
“We can’t actively fight the fire, so we’ve gone into asset protection mode, so we’ve got crews on the assets we can actually  have access to.”
Mr Wilson said those assets were “mostly houses”.
Winds are expected to ease from about 6pm.
“Assuming the wind does what the forecast expects it to do then … the emergency warning will hopefully come off,” Mr Wilson said.
The TFS has also issued a watch and act alert for Nugent for Bezzants Road, Crawlers Gully Road, Nugent Road, Kellevie Road and surrounding areas.
Watch and act alert for Kellevie
There is a watch and act alert for nearby Kellevie, with residents urged to monitor conditions as they are changing.
“The fire is travelling towards Kellevie and expected to impact Kellevie and surrounds as soon as now,” the TFS has said.
The fire is expected to be difficult to control.
“Decide early if you are going to leave, and make sure you have a clear path to a safer place,” the TFS said.
“If you are not prepared for a bushfire, be ready to leave for a safer place. If you stay, your home may not be defendable.”
The latest fire warnings are available from TasALERT.
Fire crews called to several fires on Sunday
Brigades were called to a number of fires on Sunday, including the Nugent fire which has since elevated to emergency warning level.
Sorell Fire Brigade was one of a number of brigades that responded to fires on Sunday. (Facebook: Sorell Fire Brigade)
The Sorell Fire Brigade, in a post on social media, said the first call came through at 12.30pm on Sunday for a fire at Forcett.
“From there, our teams were deployed as far as Bream Creek before returning back to Nugent, carrying out firefighting efforts and asset protection.”