59yo NPWS firefighter killed by falling tree during bushfire prevention work at Nerong

A firefighter from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has died after being crushed by a tree during bushfire prevention work north of Newcastle.

The Bulahdelah fire, which has destroyed four homes and is burning on both sides of the Pacific Highway between Crawford River and Nerong, has scorched more than 3,400 hectares of the Myall Lakes National Park.

Emergency service crews were called to a property on Little Nugra Road at Nerong, about 90 kilometres north of Newcastle, at about 10:45pm on Sunday after reports a 59-year-old man had been struck by a tree.

“It’s believed he suffered a cardiac arrest after being struck by a falling tree,” Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said today. 

“National Parks staff that were with him performed CPR until New South Wales Ambulance crews arrived.”

Paramedics arrived and treated him, but he died at the scene.

The man was an “experienced firefighter” and divisional commander who joined the NPWS in 1996 and was working as a field officer at the time of his death. 

“He worked out of the Lake Munmorah depot for the past 25 years,” Ms Sharpe said. 

Firefighters from the National Parks and Wildlife Service have been working to try to contain the Buladelah fire. (Bridget Murphy: ABC Newcastle)

NPWS executive director of coastal operations Naomi Stephens expressed her condolences and “deep sadness” to the man’s family. 

“The work that our parks firefighters do is inherently dangerous,” she said. 

“It’s a huge loss and sadness to us for this to have happened to one of our firefighters.

“I also want to mention his colleagues… and how much our organisation is working to support those people today at this difficult time.”

Community mourning

Mid Coast Council Mayor Claire Pontin said the communities in and around Bulahdelah were “devastated by the news”.

“They are tight-knit communities,” she said.

“We’re very fortunate this fire hasn’t actually reached those towns, but [they] have affected those surrounding isolated properties.

“Nobody wants to hear a firefighter has died … our hearts go out to his family and friends.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed the man who died was a NPWS firefighter, and described it as “distressing news”.

“[It is] obviously terrible and a reminder of how difficult and dangerous this work is, and how the people who put their lives on the line to protect lives and property do an incredible job for us,” he said.

“It’s a deeply distressing turn of events and a sad day for NSW.”

The Buladelah fire is burning on both sides of the Pacific Highway between Crawford River and Nerong. (Bridget Murphy: ABC Newcastle)

Mr Minns said he also wanted to urge volunteer firefighters not to be discouraged from signing up, as the state could not afford to lose volunteers ahead of the busy fire season.

“We don’t have a plan B — our firefighting efforts in New South Wales depend on men and women signing up and in some cases putting themselves in harms way to save and protect complete strangers,” he said. 

“I realise its not for everybody, but it is for some people.”

Ms Sharpe confirmed authorities have established a crime scene and WorkSafe has been notified.

“This is a tragic reminder of the risks our firefighters face every time they put on their uniform to keep our community safe,” she said.

“We thank them for everything they do to protect us.”