Heartbreak and Flames: Karen's Journey Through Loss and Resilience

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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 was a cherished symbol of her late parents’ lives.

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

Throughout their lives, they had often relied on secondhand items, but this home was a fresh start, crafted with care by her father, offering a new beginning filled with new belongings.

“This place holds countless cherished memories. It was an incredibly special time for our family,” she reflected.

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 over photographs of their parents’ beloved home. Source: SBS News / Kerrin Thomas

Tragically, a fire that erupted on Thursday in the coastal area of Dolphin Sands destroyed 19 homes, including that of Foster-Bailey’s parents. Additionally, 14 more homes were partially damaged by the blaze.

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.