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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/27/tasmanian-towns-urged-to-evacuate-as-bushfires-rage-along-coast
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tasmanian bushfires rage along coast, forcing residents to relocate | Tasmanian bushfires rage along coast, forcing residents to relocate |
| (7 months later) | |
| About 150 residents of northwest Tasmania have been relocated by boat after spending much of the day sheltering on a beach from raging bushfires. | About 150 residents of northwest Tasmania have been relocated by boat after spending much of the day sheltering on a beach from raging bushfires. |
| A 7,000-hectare blaze that has been burning for days posed a threat to holiday shacks at the small communities of Temma, Arthur River and Nelson Bay, where people were told to evacuate at about 5am on Wednesday. | A 7,000-hectare blaze that has been burning for days posed a threat to holiday shacks at the small communities of Temma, Arthur River and Nelson Bay, where people were told to evacuate at about 5am on Wednesday. |
| Many people had nowhere to go but the beach, where they remained until the firefront passed late in the afternoon. | Many people had nowhere to go but the beach, where they remained until the firefront passed late in the afternoon. |
| “We have no confirmed losses of private property, although there may be some damage,” a Tasmania Fire Service spokeswoman said. | “We have no confirmed losses of private property, although there may be some damage,” a Tasmania Fire Service spokeswoman said. |
| “There have been no major injuries and no stock losses.” | “There have been no major injuries and no stock losses.” |
| Boats collected residents and some stranded fire crews from the beach, just south of Arthur River. | Boats collected residents and some stranded fire crews from the beach, just south of Arthur River. |
| Residents were being permitted to return to their properties on Wednesday evening with bridges reopened to local traffic. | Residents were being permitted to return to their properties on Wednesday evening with bridges reopened to local traffic. |
| Winds of up to 60km/h fuelled the blaze for much of Wednesday and as it burns through peat bog, authorities are forecasting it will burn for many more days. | Winds of up to 60km/h fuelled the blaze for much of Wednesday and as it burns through peat bog, authorities are forecasting it will burn for many more days. |
| “We are not going to be putting these fires out,” the spokeswoman said. | “We are not going to be putting these fires out,” the spokeswoman said. |
| “We are very much in a defensive position, trying to establish containment lines and protect property and people that may come under threat.” | “We are very much in a defensive position, trying to establish containment lines and protect property and people that may come under threat.” |
| The fire is believed to be one of more than 70 started by a dry lightning strike a fortnight ago. | The fire is believed to be one of more than 70 started by a dry lightning strike a fortnight ago. |
| A fire in the Cradle Valley in central Tasmania has prompted the closure of the popular Overland Track until next Wednesday, 3 February, and access to Cradle Mountain has also been shut. | A fire in the Cradle Valley in central Tasmania has prompted the closure of the popular Overland Track until next Wednesday, 3 February, and access to Cradle Mountain has also been shut. |
| Parks and Wildlife Service boss Peter Mooney said there is no immediate danger to visitors but wants to avoid any risk. | Parks and Wildlife Service boss Peter Mooney said there is no immediate danger to visitors but wants to avoid any risk. |
| The spate of recent fires includes blazes in 34 reserves and across an estimated 11,380 hectares of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. | The spate of recent fires includes blazes in 34 reserves and across an estimated 11,380 hectares of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. |
| “While life and property is always the priority of the co-operative firefighting effort, [agencies are] working closely to prioritise protection of high-value areas within the reserve system,” Mooney said. | “While life and property is always the priority of the co-operative firefighting effort, [agencies are] working closely to prioritise protection of high-value areas within the reserve system,” Mooney said. |
| 40 helicopters and six fixed-wing aircraft are part of the statewide firefighting effort with interstate crews also helping the battle. | 40 helicopters and six fixed-wing aircraft are part of the statewide firefighting effort with interstate crews also helping the battle. |
| On Thursday a team of about 40 firefighters from New Zealand will start arriving in Tasmania. | On Thursday a team of about 40 firefighters from New Zealand will start arriving in Tasmania. |
| The resources on loan from interstate include multiple aircraft. | The resources on loan from interstate include multiple aircraft. |