Community's only store destroyed by fire

A shop selling essential items such as food, drink, gas and diesel in an indigenous community on the Dampier Peninsula has been destroyed by fire.

Beagle Bay Store manage Steve Clayton rang emergency services shortly after midnight, saying there were gas bottles inside the iron clad/asbestos building which was alight, about 100km north of Broome.

All local volunteer firefighters could do when they arrived was keep people back as the cylinders began to explode.

The fire had burnt itself out by 4.30am this morning.

DFES Kimberley Superintendent Grant Pipe said the damage was extensive.

“There is certainly nothing left of the building that is able to be saved,” he said.

“We have currently got some issues with asbestos and other issues involving security for the affected community ensuring they don’t get near the site.”

Beagle Bay resident Albert Wiggan, who lives in the 300-strong community with his partner and two boys aged 8 and 12, said people now faced the prospect of having to travel to Broome and back for supplies.

“We are all very, very saddened and upset by what has happened but we are not beaten,” he said.

“We now face the prospect of having to travel all the way to Broome to buy our basic necessities.”

Supt Pipe said the cause of the blaze was being investigated by DFES and the police.

“We have not fenced off the site at the moment but we are certainly expediting that to allay any safety concerns,” he said.

“Importantly, we need to get the fire investigators in their first before we disturb the area.”

DFES was working with several other government agencies government to ensure a “speedy recovery” for the community.

“There is no food for sale in the community now so we are looking at setting-up a satellite shop,“ Supt Pipe said.

A team from Outback Stores was expected to arrive in the remote community this afternoon to begin planning for a temporary store.

“Outback Stores, together with the store owners, are focusing all efforts to establish a temporary store as soon as possible, to ensure food and supplies continue to be available in the community,” an Outback Stores spokesman said.

“New supplies have already been ordered to be delivered to the community as soon as possible.”

Beagle Bay Aboriginal Corporation member Philip Matsumoto said the store had been making good progress under the new

management. Steve and Kerry Clayton took over the management of the store earlier this year on behalf of Outback Stores.

“The store sold everything, there was even an ATM inside,” Mr Matsumoto said.

“We will be doing all we can to get a temporary shop replacement before something permanent can be established.”