St Helens businesses have thrown open their doors to support locals displaced by a bushfire that destroyed two homes and burned through over 1,400 hectares near the east coast town.
Easy Tiger, a St Helens brewery, bar, eatery and cinema, has been offering free coffee and movies to those affected by the blaze that tore through Stieglitz.
Managing Director Jason Uwin said the response reflected the community spirit across the region.
“We’re open all day, every day, so people know they can come and charge their phone and do that sort of stuff … Just making sure they know we’re here,” he told Pulse.
The cinema is screening family-friendly films including Now You See Me during school holidays to help residents take their minds off the disaster.
Uwin said Easy Tiger was just one of many local businesses stepping up.
“I think that it’s actually a whole town thing. I don’t think there’s many businesses which haven’t jumped in,” he said.
“When you see just the massive effort that went in … from so many people on the ground … over a thousand hectares burnt and two structures – wow, no one saw that coming.”
Firefighters battled challenging conditions overnight Tuesday as strong, erratic winds pushed the blaze from Dianas Basin towards Stieglitz.
Incident Controller David Castellar praised crews for limiting damage to two houses.
Dozens spent Tuesday night at an evacuation centre, while approximately 800 homes were without power.
Uwin said the town felt it had “dodged a bullet” thanks to firefighters’ efforts, but nervousness remained about potential wind changes that could push flames over the Tasman Highway.
“Whilst people can’t get back to their houses, what are people worried about? Freezers, all of the product that’s in there, the cost associated with that,” he said.
