Karen Faced Tragedy Twice: First Her Mother's Passing, Then Devastating Fires Erased Her Cherished Memories

Share and Follow

Homes have been destroyed on Tasmania’s east coast, leaving families like Karen Foster-Bailey’s to take stock of the “heartbreaking” damage.

Foster-Bailey’s parents’ home was destroyed in the Tasmanian fire.

The area is no stranger to the smell of bush fire smoke, experiencing several fires over the years, but it’s the first time their family has been affected.

The fire burned through the area just six weeks after the death of her mother, and a year on since her father died.

“It’s now down to us as a family of four to get everything sorted,” she told SBS News.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t been on the block yet to assess what’s going on.”

The house carried immense sentimental value for her late parents.

“Mum never had anything new until Dad built this new home for her,” she said.

“Throughout their lives, they often relied on secondhand items, but when Dad built this home, it marked a fresh start with everything brand new for her,” she reflected.

“These walls hold countless cherished memories, and it was truly a wonderful period for our family,” she added.

Foster-Bailey hadn’t been able to visit the property as of Monday afternoon, but was informed by authorities that it had “been lost” in the fire.

She said the loss will be felt by several generations of her family, who often spent holidays and Christmas at the home.

“It’s very heartbreaking,” she said.

Karen Foster-Bailey and her brother Shane Russell are reminiscing as they browse through photographs of their parents’ beloved home.

Image Source: SBS News / Kerrin Thomas

Nineteen homes, including Foster-Bailey’s parents’, were destroyed, and 14 others sustained some damage in the fire that sparked in the seaside community of Dolphin Sands on Thursday.

The 700-hectare blaze near Freycinet National Park on the state’s coast damaged electricity lines, roads and other infrastructure.

Tasmania Police said 122 “assets” sustained damage as of Monday, including sheds, caravans and water tanks.

Police have confirmed Dolphin Sands roan will reopen today, with reduced speed limits in place as some people begin to return to their properties.

In NSW, bush fires at Koolewong on the central coast and Bulahdelah on the mid north coast have also destroyed 20 homes, and a firefighter was killed as of Monday night. Meanwhile, a natural disaster has been declared in several local government areas.

Fire conditions continue

More than 45 bushfires are burning across NSW on Tuesday morning, with all at an Alert level or below.

There are four larger fires in Redhead in Lake Macquarie, Koolewong, Bulahdelah and Milsons Gully in the Upper Hunter.

The Bureau of Meteorology has designated 14 districts in the state as currently being at a high fire danger.

While fire danger will diminish on Wednesday in NSW, an extreme alert is in place for the Eastern Riverina district.

The fire in Dolphins Sands remains at a Watch and Act level.

Tasmania currently has eight districts in high fire danger, and the whole state is expected to witness reduced fire conditions on Wednesday.

In the latest seasonal bushfire outlook, the Australian and New Zealand Council for Fire and Emergency Services has identified an increased risk of fires across parts of Western Australia, NSW and Victoria.