The priorities for Tasmania Police this afternoon are to continue to support the Tasmania Fire Service in the preservation of life, facilitating the movement of people from the Tasman Peninsula and assessing properties in the fire affected areas to enable people to return to their shacks or homes as soon as possible.

The Acting Commissioner of Police, Scott Tilyard, thanked emergency service workers, support agencies and volunteers for their work in challenging conditions.

Mr Tilyard said a major priority for police is to address issues with people remaining isolated on the Tasman Peninsula. Commercial and private vessels continue to be used to remove people from the peninsula.

The Arthur Highway remains closed for safety reasons, however an option being investigated until the road can be reopened is a convoy of people out of the area escorted by emergency personnel, however this may not be possible until tomorrow.

3000 meals, as well as fuel, water, and health personnel were delivered via boat this morning to help people in the Nubeena area and surrounds, while efforts are underway to provide further supplies and an industrial generator for electricity.

There are an estimated 2000 people at the Nubeena Refuge Centre, about 600 at Port Arthur and another 100 at the Dunalley Hotel.

“We are hopeful of at least having some form of escorted access for people particularly coming off the Tasman Peninsula,” Mr Tilyard said. “There are obviously people down there as tourists and they are keen to get out. It’s been a long night for many people but the main thing is that they have been safe. People are worried about their shacks, their homes and are probably feeling a sense of frustration but I ask people to be patient, and I know they have been.”

He said Tasmania Police is bringing additional resources in from the North of the State and had received offers of assistance from other jurisdictions which would be accepted if required.

There are no confirmed deaths or major injuries at this stage, but a major priority at the moment is organising search teams to assess damaged properties.

“We are hoping there have been no deaths associated with these fires but until we have the opportunity to get in and literally go through property by property we can’t confirm there hasn’t been one or more deaths,” Mr Tilyard said.

“That is a time-consuming process that has to be done thoroughly and safely, and until we can do that we can’t allow people to go to those premises, so that adds to the time delay for people getting back to their homes. We apologise for that but there’s not much we can do in the circumstances.”

Mr Tilyard reminded people that a hotline has been set up -1800 567 567 – for information.

Tasmania Police Media & Communications

(03) 6230 2296