Wiring cause of Bronte blaze

A FIRE which destroyed a piece of Central Highlands history — and left Bronte Park without a local pub — has been deemed accidental.

Tasmania Fire Service, Tasmania Police and electrical investigators spent Saturday sifting through the remains of the 75-year-old Bronte Park Lodge to determine the cause of $1 million blaze which razed the popular fishing hub.

The cause was found to be accidental with investigators saying the fire started from wiring in the lodge’s roof space.

The fire, which started just after 7.30 on Friday morning quickly took hold of the timber structure. Staff and guests were forced to flee while business owner Kristy Headlam helplessly watched the building burn to the ground.

Tasmania Fire Service Regional Investigator Andrew Emery said the fire had begun in the ceiling above the foyer as a result of an electrical fault.

Mr Emery praised the quick actions of the staff in alerting and evacuating the guests.

“The fire took hold of the building quickly, and if it wasn’t for the prompt actions of the staff at the lodge following their predetermined emergency evacuation plan, the result could have been more devastating,” Mr Emery said.

“The building was fitted with a working fire alarm system which quickly alerted the occupants to the fire and contributed to no loss of life.”

A large excavator was called in to help make the building safe and to assist investigators in accessing the structure.

He said smoke alarm batteries should be changed regularly.