Firefighters are battling to bring a bushfire on Tasmania’s east coast under control after the blaze prompted campers and residents to evacuate.

The wildfire near Coles Bay Road at Friendly Beaches was at watch-and-act level on Wednesday morning, with a warning urging people in the area to seek shelter in place.

People were forced to leave their homes and campsites on Tuesday afternoon when the bushfire sparked an emergency warning in windy conditions.

The blaze is about 20km north of tourist town Coles Bay, which is the entrance to the picturesque Freycinet National Park.

Coles Bay Road, the only route in-and-out of the town, remained closed to the general public on Wednesday morning.

It will not be reopened until a full safety inspection has been completed and hazards are removed.

Tasmania Fire Service acting regional chief Greg Butters said everyone in the area had been accounted for and the extent of damage was being determined.

He told ABC radio that 3mm of rain had dampened fuel loads around the fire, which has burned about 600 hectares.

There were reports of about 100 people sleeping in their cars at Coles Bay overnight as a result of the bushfire.

More than 700 properties at Coles Bay were without power on Wednesday morning due to fallen powerlines.

Parks and wildlife authorities on Tuesday worked to evacuate campers in the area.

An evacuation centre has been set up at Swansea Town Hall.

– AAP