Bushfire conditions ease as fire crews continue to battle 40 blazes across Tasmania

A wind change has eased bushfire conditions in Tasmania, but more than 40 blazes continue to rage across the state.

Cooler weather has helped firefighters battling sections of the Riveaux Road blaze in the Huon Valley, south-west of Hobart.

Yet several communities remain under threat today, with emergency alerts in place for Geeveston, Judbury, Port Huon, Cairns Bay, Glen Huon, Lonnavale and Castle Forbes Bay.

Authorities are warning wind changes could lead to more closures of roads, including the Huon Highway.

Five hundred crews are currently battling a fire front threatening a World Heritage forest.

Residents in Glen Huon have been told to leave, with the town still under threat. Three homes have been confirmed as destroyed but the full extent of the damage remains unknown.

Parts of a popular tourist attraction, the Tahune Airwalk, have been destroyed or damaged.

The Gell River blaze in the southwest has burned a small section of the Mt Field National Park, northwest of Hobart.

Authorities were forced to wrap historical buildings in silver foil after Churchill's Hut, a near century-old trapper's hut, burned down despite lengthy efforts to protect it.

The fires have ravaged a total of 178,000 hectares.

Meanwhile, fire crews are expected to use today’s cooler weather to shore up fire containment lines ahead of predicted dry, hot weather on Sunday.

"We'll prepare for another bad patch. Make no mistake, fire still poses a risk to communities," Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Chris Arnol said.

Tasmanian authorities have said they may use boats to reach southern communities if they become cut off by bushfires.

"In the event that the situation becomes worse ... we are looking at water-borne options," Tasmania Police regional controller Tony Cerritelli said.

Police have charged a 42-year-old man with looting from evacuated homes in the Huon Valley.

He faces 30 charges, including multiple burglary and stealing offences.

"Fortunately this is the only reported series of crimes targeting evacuated properties," Detective Acting Inspector Jim Semmens said.

"I want to reassure the public that Tasmania Police will not tolerate this kind of behaviour."

The majority of stolen property was recovered and returned to the owners.