Tasmania Police to keep eye on suspected, known arsonists during total fire ban
Updated
Tasmania Police will be checking in with known and suspected arsonists ahead of tomorrow's high fire danger in the state.
Hot and windy conditions are forecast and a total fire ban has been declared for the North, South and King Island.
Police will be visiting known fire bugs ahead of the dangerous fire conditions.
Deputy Police Commissioner Glenn Frame said there were only a very small number of known arsonists in Tasmania.
"We won't take a heavy hand but we'll let them know we're about and that we're patrolling," he said.
"We're keeping a bit of an eye on them and hopefully that will deter them from getting out and about and doing the wrong thing."
He said it was a balance between warning the community and alerting arsonists to the potential dangers of the conditions.
"There is a risk that we'll put the thought into their mind, we're conscious of that, so we make conscious decisions and make the best decision we can in the circumstances," he said.
Deputy Commissioner Frame is encouraging the community to be vigilant.
"Be our eyes and ears on the ground, to report suspicious activity, to take video if they can, to get descriptions, to get registration numbers and pass it on," he said.
Strike teams ready
Tasmania Fire Service is preparing strike teams go to high-risk locations.
Acting Deputy Chief Officer Jeremy Smith said areas like the Midlands, the Upper Derwent Valley and the East Coast were at risk.
"We do believe if we do get a fire that does start it will be difficult to control," he said.
"It will be important that if a fire does break out people enact their bushfire plan."
Mr Smith said it was not too late to make a plan and urged Tasmanians to consult the Tasmanian Fire Service website.
Premier Will Hodgman said he is confident the state's emergency services are ready to deal with the potential fire threat.
"We are well resourced we are well prepared because Tasmania has nation-leading fuel-reduction programs in place," he said.
Tasmanians are being reminded to fully extinguish any fires on their property ahead of tomorrow.
Topics: fires, bushfire, arson, community-and-society, tas, hobart-7000, launceston-7250, st-helens-7216
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