Written by Swikblog News Desk
Updated: Thu 4 December 2025, 4:00pm AEDT
Glenlusk, Tasmania — Residents in parts of Hobart’s northern fringe are being urged to evacuate as a fast-moving bushfire spreads under extreme conditions, with wind gusts nearing 100km/h pushing flames towards homes and farmland. Emergency services have confirmed the fire remains uncontrolled and that the situation may deteriorate with little warning.
LIVE UPDATE: Residents in Glenlusk and surrounding areas are being urged to evacuate immediately where safe, as intense winds and thick smoke drive the bushfire closer to homes. Smoke alerts are now active near New Town Bay Golf Course and surrounding suburbs.
Check the latest alerts on ABC Emergency and the official TasALERT website.
The Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) says the blaze, burning in steep country near the area bounded by Brinkmans Road, Faulkners Road and Molesworth Road, is uncontrolled and expected to put lives and property at risk with little warning. Thick smoke, flying embers and rapidly changing wind directions are complicating firefighting efforts on the ground and in the air.
Emergency warning for Glenlusk: ‘Evacuate now’
The warning for Glenlusk is the highest level of bushfire alert issued in Tasmania. It means people in affected streets may already be in danger and are strongly advised to leave before fire reaches their homes. Those who cannot get out safely are being told to shelter in a solid, enclosed building or in a cleared open space away from dense vegetation.
In its latest update, TasALERT and the ABC Emergency warning page describe an active bushfire producing smoke, ash and embers that may reach well ahead of the main fire front. Residents are urged to keep monitoring official channels as the situation can change within minutes.
Local outlets, including New Norfolk News, report that fire crews have been moving through the area door-to-door, urging people to leave while roads remain open and visibility is still reasonable.
Smoke alert issued near New Town Bay Golf Course
Health warnings have been issued for parts of Hobart after thick smoke from the bushfire spread across areas near New Town Bay Golf Course.
Residents have been advised to stay indoors where possible, close all windows and doors, and reduce outdoor activity as air quality deteriorates. Authorities warn that smoke conditions may worsen if the fire intensifies or wind direction changes.
Winds near 100km/h are fuelling dangerous fire conditions
Wind gusts approaching 100km/h are now the primary driver of the fire’s rapid spread. Emergency crews warn that such winds create dangerous and unpredictable fire behaviour, including flying embers capable of igniting spot fires kilometres ahead of the main front.
The Glenlusk blaze is unfolding against a backdrop of severe weather, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of damaging winds over large parts of southern Tasmania. Gusts approaching 100km/h in exposed areas have made conditions “difficult to control” for firefighters and have grounded or limited the use of some aircraft earlier in the day.
Authorities say more than one fire is burning across Tasmania, but the Glenlusk blaze has become a priority because of its proximity to homes and its position relative to the wind. People as far away as Hobart’s northern suburbs have reported heavy smoke and an acrid smell in the air.
Where is Glenlusk and who is most at risk?
Glenlusk is a rural valley north-west of Hobart, sitting between Molesworth and the foothills behind the city’s northern suburbs. The district is dotted with small farms, hobby blocks and bush properties connected by narrow, winding roads that can quickly become hazardous when smoke lowers visibility.
The current Emergency Warning covers the area around Brinkmans Road, Faulkners Road and Molesworth Road and nearby properties. People travelling in the region are being asked to avoid Glenlusk unless they live there, to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles and evacuees.
Residents outside the highest alert zone but within sight of smoke have been told to stay prepared: moving stock to safer paddocks, clearing flammable material from decks and gutters, and packing an overnight bag in case the warning level escalates.
What authorities are telling residents to do
The Tasmania Fire Service and emergency broadcasters have issued clear guidance for those in and around Glenlusk:
- Leave early if you can. Do not wait to see flames at your boundary. Leaving while it is still light, before roads are blocked by fallen trees or thick smoke, is the safest option.
- Use main roads. Follow directions from police, State Emergency Service (SES) crews and traffic managers. Avoid back tracks or unsealed roads that may be cut off.
- If you cannot leave safely, shelter in place. Stay inside a solid home, close all doors and windows, and move to a room furthest from the approaching fire. Have water, woollen blankets and a battery-powered radio ready.
- Watch for embers. Put out spot fires in gutters, garden beds and around sheds while it is safe to do so. A hose and buckets can make a significant difference before conditions deteriorate.
- Do not return once you have left. Roads may be closed without warning, and the fire front can change direction quickly in strong winds.
People with asthma, heart conditions or other respiratory illnesses are being advised to limit their exposure to smoke and follow health guidance from Tasmania’s Department of Health and Asthma Australia.
Part of a volatile bushfire season
The emergency at Glenlusk comes after a series of serious fires and severe weather events across Tasmania in recent seasons, from coastal blazes at Dolphin Sands to lightning-driven outbreaks in the Central Highlands. While each fire is shaped by local conditions, climate scientists have warned that warmer, windier summers are likely to increase the number of high-risk days in the state over coming decades.
Fire authorities have repeatedly stressed the importance of advance planning, even for residents who do not see themselves as traditional “bush” dwellers. Valleys like Glenlusk, with their mix of dry forest and rural housing, can become firegrounds in a matter of hours when conditions line up as they have this week.
Earlier this year, Swikblog reported on extreme weather bringing flash flooding and thunderstorms to Auckland, highlighting how quickly local conditions can swing from one hazard to another in our region. You can read that coverage here: Auckland weather: heavy rain and thunderstorm forecast .
How to stay informed if you are in Tasmania
For anyone in or travelling through southern Tasmania, emergency services are urging people to rely on verified information rather than social media rumours. The key channels are:
- TasALERT – official Tasmanian emergency warnings
- Tasmania Fire Service – fire danger ratings, incidents and advice
- ABC News Tasmania and ABC Emergency for live radio and rolling coverage
- The Tasmania Police community alerts page for road closures and traffic updates
- The Tasmanian Department of Health air quality advice for smoke-related health information
Anyone in immediate danger is urged to call Triple Zero (000).
After the fire: what happens next for Glenlusk?
In the days ahead, attention will shift from emergency response to damage assessment and recovery. For Glenlusk, that may mean days of smouldering hotspots, fallen trees, damaged fences and the slow process of checking every property in the warning area. Power and telecommunications may be disrupted even after the main blaze has passed.
Local councils, community groups and support services are already preparing to help residents who may face losses ranging from spoiled food to destroyed homes. Insurance assessors and recovery agencies will move in once it is safe, but for now the message remains stark: stay out of danger, follow the warnings and put personal safety first.
This article will be updated as new information becomes available from TasALERT, the Tasmania Fire Service and other official sources.
