The east coast of Tasmania is still scarred from the Dolphin Sands bushfire that ripped through the region in 2023. This calamity has hit the area hard. The fire burned the equivalent of more than 700 soccer fields. It was a temporary devastating surprise, razing all of 16 homes and shanties and partially damaging an additional three. As government officials work on damage assessment, flooding response and recovery, thousands of residents are still recovering from this ongoing tragedy.
For local resident Rob Churchill, it was a terrifying experience with his house located dangerously close to the fire front. “And it’s horrific that we lost that house on the ground today,” he said. His words are a testament to the profound emotional toll it took on those who lost their homes. The fire killed multiple pet and farm animals, but it directly endangered the couple’s livelihood by destroying or damaging 15 outbuildings and four vehicles. It damaged at least 40 power poles and multiple transformers.
Impact on the Community
The community surrounding this bushfire has already experienced a devastating impact, with entire families, including their pets and farm animals, evacuated. Diane Bricknell, her husband, and daughter evacuated their home with just the clothes on their back—and that was in part due to having to carry their beloved dogs. “Every year it can be the year,” she said sadly, showing the people of this country the constant threat of bushfires in the area.
As if to reiterate how severe the flooding was, authorities listed 195 assets— primarily residential structures, garages and vehicles—as damaged or destroyed. As Jeremy Smith from the fire service told us, at least 195 of these assets have been burned or consumed. These might be attached or detached garages, outhouses, vehicles, water tanks, and other non-dwelling access structures. This widespread devastation has resulted in tremendous obstacles for local residents seeking to rebuild their lives.
Though some properties were spared, including Paul Haddad’s beach shack, he is still worried about the next time. He described his shack as “just heaven on earth. It’s the most delightful place for a shack on earth.” He was acutely aware of the swift and unpredictable nature of bushfires on this land. He continued, “This is a really fire-prone region. It’s just a matter of luck as to where a fire starts.” For him, the biggest threat lies in the fact that while his property may be protected today, tomorrow could be a different story.
Road Closures and Safety Concerns
Even as cleanup work starts, closed roads continue to anger residents. Authorities are continuing to assess when the road, located east of 191 Dolphin Sands Road, can be reopened safely. Because of this, the road is still closed today. Mark Klop with local emergency services stressed that residents and emergency vehicles are unable to safely access the area at this time. He noted that dangerous debris such as toxic roofing sheets cling to people’s properties. This word of caution is to protect both current residents and emergency responders engaged in recovery efforts.
Overnight rain provided some relief to firefighters battling the blaze. Strong winds are expected again on Monday, raising high fire danger concerns. We want to reassure residents that local authorities are continuing to monitor and improve local conditions to keep the situation from getting worse.
The Future of Dolphin Sands
Residents are deeply engaged in the courageous labor of reconstituting their lives and livelihoods, lives and homes. Most are now contemplating what their own future looks like in Dolphin Sands. We are definitely going to have to move,” said Rob Churchill. The couple’s property received a devastating level of destruction from the series of tornadoes. “We realise we’ll probably have to move, but we will leave it; our property’s worth a lot less now,” he said.
Paul Haddad expressed similar feelings to the unpredictability of bushfires in the region. In so doing, he raised the alarm for his fellow residents who weren’t as lucky on the lottery as he was. Yet only time will tell if those precautions saved lives,” he said. He was specifically talking about the steps they needed to take to protect their properties from recurring fires.
The recent Dolphin Sands bushfire is a timely reminder of how precious life can be and the well-developed bushfire-prone areas we’ve built up over generations. Only time will tell how this community’s resilience will be tested in the coming months as they try and recover from this unforeseen disaster.
