'High risk' uncontrolled bushfire threatens mining town

Communities are bracing as an out-of-control bushfire bears down, with more than 20 blazes raging as weather conditions rapidly change.

Residents and visitors to Corinna on Tasmania's west coast were issued with an emergency warning on Thursday night and told to take shelter.

The blazes put people and homes at high risk, authorities warned.

"Corinna and surrounds is currently at high risk. The fire is travelling towards Corinna," TasAlert said.

"Burning embers may threaten your home before the main fire arrives. Smoke and ash may make it difficult to see and breathe.

"Tasmania Fire Service, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and Sustainable Timber Tasmania is attending. Conditions are expected to be changeable."

Residents in Zeehan were on a 'watch and act' alert with people warned to prepare to leave.

Schools were closed and evacuation centres established.

Residents were urged to avoid using hoses and sprinklers unless an ember attack directly threatened their property.

"With bushfires in the area, water levels in Zeehan are critically low," authorities warned.

"Every drop counts right now."

Scott Vinen from the Tasmanian Fire Service said embers had begun to descend on the town, which prompted an emergency warning.

"We have had embers in and around Zeehan with smoke," he said.

"We do have some firefighting resources in the area who will be patrolling and looking out for any ember attacks."

Watch and act alerts were in place for Sandy Cape, Pieman Heads, Conical Rocks, Savage River and Granville Harbour.

In all, there were 25 bushfire warnings issued across Tasmania.