Gas fears as travellers flee in shopping complex fire drama

By DENNIS AMOR

TRAVELLERS fled as an outback town's small shopping complex erupted in flames just metres from their caravans in Western Australia.

There were fears that dozens of gas cylinders stored near caravans and tents could explode as the shopping centre – housing the town's only supermarket,  video and electrical stores, takeaway and post office – became a blazing inferno.

"You could feel the heat from the fire and toxic smoke was blowing right across the park," the caretaker of Fitzroy Crossing's three-star Tarunda Caravan Park, Jim O'Neill, told Caravanning News.

About 40 guests from the 56-site caravan park, and some staff from the supermarket who were staying in the park's accommodation quarters, were evacuated when the fire broke out at about 7am.

"There was no time to hitch up caravans or take down tents," Mr O'Neill explained. "It had to be done very quickly because there were about about 50 gas bottles stored at the back of the supermarket ... and we're both on the same block. We supply the town with its gas. The flames were very fierce."

Tourists, some having been raised from their beds, gathered in the roadway outside the park but were allowed back after about two hours.

There were fears the outbreak would create a food shortage in the tiny town, situated in the Kimberley region about 2500km north of Perth. But ironically, the fire happened on the same day that grocery supplies from the south were due to arrive.

The local roadhouse set up an impromptu grocery store and the local community-based store brought in extra stock as arson squad detectives arrived from Perth to investigate the fire, which caused about $3 million damage.

BACK TO CARAVANNING NEWS MAIN PAGE