Two Tasmanian pizzerias have gone above and beyond to support the firefighters battling bushfires on the West Coast, teaming up to deliver 40 large pizzas to the frontline.
Claremont’s Dino Pizza and Queenstown’s Delish Pizza collaborated for the kind gesture, with Dino Pizza owner Stephen Noble driving four hours up from Hobart with supplies to assist in the effort.
Noble told Pulse he wanted to show his appreciation for the firefighters who are “putting their lives on the line” to protect the West Coast community.
He took to his Facebook page last Friday to float the idea of delivering a “free feed” to firefighters on the West Coast, which led him to make contact with Queenstown’s Delish Pizza.
Noble said it took several hours of hard work from staff and volunteers to make and cook the pizzas in Queenstown before they made the nearly hour-long drive north to the emergency response basecamp at Tullah.
The pizzas arrived in Tullah just in time for dinner, much to the delight of hungry firefighters and coordination staff, including those from the Tasmania Fire Service, Parks and Wildlife Service and the NSW Rural Fire Service.
“Quite a few fireys came to me, shaking my hand and to thank us,” he said.
Noble said he was motivated to support the firefighters after his shop was destroyed by fire in an arson attack in 2017.
“The Claremont Volunteer Fire Brigade came to my aid and they were my pillar of support,” he said.
After seeing the bushfires on the West Coast, he contacted a member of the Claremont brigade who was a regular Dino Pizza customer, who helped him formally arrange the pizza drop-off with the Tasmania Fire Service.
More than 94,000 hectares of West Coast wilderness has now been lost to the bushfires, which were sparked by dry lightning earlier this month.
The firefighting effort has drawn more than 100 personnel from Tasmania, New Zealand, Queensland and New South Wales.
With the main threat now over, efforts are shifting to assess the damage, including the impact of the fire on areas of high natural and cultural value like the Overland Track.
“The Overland Track remedial works are on schedule to be completed by Monday 24 February. Public safety remains our priority, therefore the track won’t be open to the public until conditions are safe from fire activity,” said Brendon Clark from Parks and Wildlife.
“Anyone who has booked to undertake the Overland Track walk during this closure period will be provided a full refund and will be added to a priority list to rebook.”
TFS State Fire Commander Matt Lowe said Yellowband Plains, Pieman River, Mt Donaldson and Canning Peak fires remain the primary fires of concern.
“It is important that members of the public remain vigilant and continue to monitor conditions on Tas Alert, as these fires are difficult to control and can change quickly.”
