‘Eerie’ glowing bushfire threatened Pelham family’s deer farm

The Eyles family stayed at their deer-farming property at Pelham this week to battle fires, which lit up surrounding hills with an “eerie” glow and thick smoke.

A HERD of antlered deer knew something was wrong when lightning struck and a bushfire tore through Pelham this week.

The 23 creatures huddled together as the hills surrounding them glowed with embers on a night their owner described as “eerie” — and terrifying.

Deer farmer and property owner Tracey Eyles, her husband, son and parents-in-law, stayed at the property throughout Monday night, battling blazes that threatened their home and stock.

“She was glowing. It was eerie,” she said.

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Deer that were saved during the Pelham fires. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The family was prepared with mobile firefighting units and water holes, and had the assistance of the Tasmania Fire Service for three hours, none of them giving up until 3am on Tuesday when it was finally time to sleep.

“We stayed. She was intense. We were lucky because we had Broadmarsh crews for a few hours. If they weren’t here, I don’t know what would be left standing,” Mrs Eyles said. “It was so fast. Once we saw smoke, it was 40 minutes at our door.”

Tracey Eyles in front of her deer handling shed that was burnt down. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

The family lost two of its outbuildings, including a deer-processing shed and fencing, but kept its foam render house unscathed.

“The heat and the wind and the intensity was fierce. You think ‘are you doing the right thing?’ But if we hadn’t stayed, we would have lost a lot,” Mrs Eyles said.

“It just tore through, it was so loud. You think, ‘are you going to be OK on the other side?’ I looked out the window and thought this might not be good.”

She said her deer knew something was wrong, huddled together before the family herded them to safety.

“I have a new-found respect for the fireys that they do this every day,” she said.