Coles Bay resident on Friendly Beaches bushfire

A Coles Bay resident has spoken of his township being plunged into a lockdown following an out of control bushfire, with people hunkering down in their cars and a community hall packed to the rafters.

Smoke rising from a fire that closed Coles Bay Rd near Friendly Beaches at 3.15pm on Tuesday, September 19, 2023. Photo: Tombolo Freycinet

A Coles Bay resident says the East-Coast township went into lockdown on Tuesday night after a bushfire burned out of control, with residents and tourists flocking to a community hall for shelter and sleeping in their cars for the night.

Rod Scott said the fire at nearby Friendly Beaches – which has since been downgraded to a watch and act alert from an emergency evacuation notice – left people stranded in the seaside tourist hamlet overnight.

Bushfire at Friendly Beaches as seen from nearby Coles Bay. Picture: Facebook

He said the number of people stranded was “significant”, and even opened his own home to safely house three tourists from Queensland for the night.

The uncontrolled bushfire, which was exacerbated by gale-force winds, shut down Coles Bay Road and cut-off power to hundreds of homes in the area.

A top wind gust of 106km/h was recorded at Friendly Beaches at 11.30pm on Tuesday night.

No homes or structures were reported to have been impacted by the blaze. No injuries were reported.

As of Wednesday morning, firefighters were still working to bring the fire under control.

On Wednesday at 7.30am, Coles Bay Rd, the major thoroughfare into the township – was reopened, allowing people to drive out.

Evacuation centres were set-up overnight at the Coles Bay Community Hall and in Swansea.

The Coles Bay Community Hall was packed with people seeking shelter, Mr Scott told the Mercury.

Coles Bay resident Rod Scott said people were sleeping in their cars in the township, and seeking shelter in the community hall. Picture: NewsCorp Australia.

“The hall was full and people were sleeping in their cars along Garnett Street near the jetty,” Mr Scott said.

Mr Scott said he took in three tourists from Queensland so they could have shelter and warmth for the night.

“The power is still out to the entire town this morning and the shops certainly won’t be open,” he said.

Mr Scott said the emergency response was sound and people were calm and collected overnight.

“I didn’t fear anything. The township is a while away from where the fire hit, I think people saw it as more of an adventure for the night,” he said.

Resident Jen Hackett said the hall had “zero resources”, with pillows, blankets and provisions in short supply.

“There was around 30 people at the hall. All stuck with nowhere to sleep apart from the hall,” she said.

“No blankets. No pillows, No mattresses etc. Zero resources. We had nothing.”

Ms Hackett said she encouraged homeowners to lend a helping hand, and found it difficult to offer “enough space or stuff for everyone”.

Felix Ellis, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, said the bushfire was a “timely warning and stark reminder how quickly Tasmanian communities can be impacted by natural disasters”.

“We know that this year is predicted to be warmer and drier with an El Nino weather pattern confirmed by the Bureau of Meteorology yesterday, and Tasmanians need to prepare their families and properties with a proper Bushfire Plan,” Mr Ellis said.

“Our emergency service responders are always available at a moment’s notice to help keep Tasmanian communities safe, and we thank you.

“The TFS and SES has more than 5000 registered volunteers they can call on, and our statewide systems are designed to support surge capacity from within and beyond regions and districts.”

Mr Ellis said there were also strike teams and other specialised resources like aerial support that could be deployed in an emergency bushfire situation to high-risk areas at short notice.

“Tasmanians already know that our beautiful state is also one of the most bushfire prone areas in the world and we also know that emergencies, like flash floods, can happen extremely quickly,” he said.

“I urge all Tasmanians, and especially those in regional areas, to take the bushfire threat seriously and be prepared so you can protect your loved ones and your property.”