Dolphin Sands residents return home to find cherished properties ‘torn apart’ by fire
Dolphin Sands families have returned to find their cherished shacks reduced to ash after a devastating bushfire tore through the East Coast community.
Dolphin Sands residents have shared their harrowing experience after returning home to properties torn apart by the devastating bushfire.
Property owner Ashley Swan has many memories growing up in her parent’s shack from the 70s, now it has all been destroyed.
Ms Swan remembers travelling up to Dolphin Sands every Easter and Christmas for the past 30 years.
“We’ve been growing up there every year since I was practically born,” she said.
“It is a very cherished place for us to have time away to spend with the family.”
When devastating images surfaced in community groups online, she and her family became concerned about the state of their property.
“Dolphin Sands is such a high risk bushfire area, we knew it was always going to be a ‘when’ not ‘if’ situation,” she said.
“I think we got sort of lulled into this false sense of security thinking that it probably wasn’t going to happen.”
On Monday the family decided to drive up from Hobart only to be told the road to the shack was closed.
Determined to find out what happened to the caravan, Ms Swan and her family hiked up the length of the beach to discover the extent of the damage.
“It looked almost like another planet, the landscape was just so burnt.”
Two of the sheds were destroyed along with a caravan, however heat damage ruined most of the remaining structures.
“Plastic blinds we had for wind breaks have melted and dripped down the side and all the piping has come off,” she said.
“As much as it hurts to see a building you love so greatly burnt, we are very grateful that we are all safe.”
Ms Swan extended her gratitude to the firefighters who fought to save the shack, despite the extensive destruction.
“My advice to others would be to have a clear plan of what you want to do,” she said.
“The fire moves quickly and the vegetation burns fast. It’s mostly boobyalla trees up there which burn like petrol when it’s alight.”
Her biggest piece of advice was that “no property is worth your life,”
“Our main concern, and I speak on behalf of the shack and property owners of Dolphin Sands, is that we don’t want this to be forgotten.
“This is not the first fire that has gone through here and each time it has been absolutely devastating.
“Once it’s dropped out of the headlines, for many it is out of sight out of mind.”
She also stressed the importance of support for the permanent residents of the area, particularly around mental health check-ins.
“Christmas is going to look very different for a lot of people this year.”
Another Dolphin Sands property owner, Toni Kibbey, shared harrowing images of her destroyed property.
In a post to a local Facebook group, she said that “it’s astonishing how fire works,”
“In one direction our recently refurbed shed is completely untouched, despite evidence of fire right next to it.
“Look to the other side and the house is completely destroyed.”
Ms Kibbey’s photos depict the sheer devastation on the property, with pieces of collapsed metal still smoking alongside a burnt car.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Dolphin Sands Road is set to be opened back up for local traffic.
However, the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management stressed that if you do not need to be in the area, stay away until further notice.
“There are still significant safety factors to consider, so police roadblocks will remain in place on Dolphin Sands Road to ensure access is only provided to local residents.” Southern Regional Emergency Management Controller, Commander Jason Elmer said.
He also explained that property owners who are unable to visit their residence can request updates to their lot’s status by contacting the Tasmanian Emergency Information Service on 1800 667 483.
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