General News
22 January, 2025
Duchess pub closes doors as fire appears on the horizon
The publicans did the right thing to help protect the nearby community.
Fleur Brown says it was a commitment to their community that prompted her and partner Mick to close the doors at the Duchess Hotel last week and help fight the fires that had engulfed the area and even came within 500m of their own pub on Thursday.
Fleur is a former RFDS nurse and Mick is a former pilot – the couple took control of the Duchess Hotel in April last year to be closer to family.
Fleur said while they were both no strangers to bush fires, having grown up in the North West, it was the first fire season they had faced as pub owners.
But when a series of lightning strikes saw a string of blazes flare across multiple Duchess properties last Tuesday, Fleur said the decision was made to close the pub doors for two days so the couple could lend a hand to their community.
“I think that’s just what you do when you live in a community; you put down what you are doing and you help out,” she told North West Weekly.
“And why would you encourage other travellers to come to an area where there are active fires around?
“We both just really wanted to do whatever was needed to help get these fires under control.
“Fortunately, the winds came in our favour and we were all able to round all the fires up.”
Fleur said while a lack of wind gust meant there was still a blanket of smoke haze over Duchess this week, the fires were now under control at the properties.
On Friday evening, the pub reopened its doors for a special community barbecue that provided a few hours of welcomed distraction for affected property owners.
North West Area Director Shane Hopton praised the pair for their commitment to their community.
“I don’t think many business owners are able to so quickly decide they would close their business for a few days to go bash fires – it is very commendable,” he said.
