The Kalgoorlie Miner
MELBOURNE, Australia — A 62-year-old volunteer firefighter was protecting his community in northeastern Victoria when he died in a tanker rollover that injured four of his brigade mates.
The man was travelling to put out a blaze ahead of extreme fire weather when he was killed at Tatong in northeast Victoria yesterday.
Three men and a woman were also injured in the rollover, two suffering serious injuries.
Country Fire Authority chief fire officer Russell Rees said the man, from nearby Tolmie, was one of five firefighters travelling to a fire at Lake Mokoan, near Benalla, when tragedy struck.
“One of our members tragically died and our condolences go to the family and the broader CFA family,” Mr Rees said.
“This is a sad event; it reinforces once again the dedication and commitment of our people across the emergency services, but particularly the volunteers who get up out of bed while you and I are slumbering away on a Sunday morning and go and do work for their community.”
The single vehicle accident occurred on the Spring Creek Road at Tatong, north of Mansfield, about 6.30am.
The 62-year-old firefighter, believed to be the driver, was trapped inside the tanker and died at the scene.
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