Name: Firefighter killed by falling tree during NSW bushfire
Uploaded: 2025-12-08T06:07:03.669Z
Duration: 2 min
Description: A 59-year-old National Parks and Wildlife Service firefighter died after being struck by a falling tree while assisting backburn operations at the Bulahdelah bushfire near Nerong, NSW. The blaze has burned 3,500 hectares, with authorities warning of a difficult season ahead.

A 59-year-old National Parks and Wildlife Service firefighter died after being struck by a falling tree while assisting backburn operations at the Bulahdelah bushfire near Nerong, NSW. The blaze has burned 3,500 hectares, with authorities warning of a difficult season ahead.

Nerong

A 59-year-old National Parks and Wildlife Service firefighter died after being struck by a falling tree while assisting with backburn operations at the Bullet Dealer bushfire near Nerong, New South Wales. Despite CPR efforts by colleagues, he could not be revived, marking the first bushfire fatality of the season.

The Bullet Dealer fire has already scorched 3,500 hectares, with nearly 60 fires burning across the state and nine uncontained. Authorities warn that recent conditions are a sign of a challenging bushfire season ahead, urging the public to be prepared and calling for more volunteers to join firefighting services.

Firefighter killed by falling tree during NSW bushfire

despair after losing one of their own. I'm heartbroken that we've lost a life as a result of the bushfires. The first tragedy of the season, a 59-year-old who worked for the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The veteran firey was helping crews at Ngurong prepare for a backburn to try and bring the Bullet Dealer blaze north of Newcastle under control. This firefighter was moving around the fire ground, checking in on colleagues, making sure everyone was safe and making sure everyone had the right information on the fire ground. It wasn't flames that claimed his life, but a falling tree. He was hit by one around 11 o'clock last night and suffered a cardiac arrest. It's a known hazard on the fire ground and we do everything possible to identify those trees and to warn firefighters about those trees. The work that our parks firefighters do is inherently dangerous. His colleagues did what they could, but desperate CPR efforts weren't enough. He could not be saved at the scene and he died there. The Bullet Dealer fire is still burning. It's pretty devastating. Scorching 3,500 hectares. What we've seen over the past few days is a taste of what's to come this summer. The RFS is worried people are too complacent and simply unprepared for bushfire season. After a few years of elevated rain and wet conditions, it's clear that people aren't thinking about bushfires sufficiently at the moment. Close to 60 fires are burning across the state and nine are uncontained, but none are at emergency or watch-and-act level. 20 homes have already been lost, though, and the Premier is warning of more heartbreak, issuing a plea for help. We need heroes to join the RFS and Fire and Rescue and the national parks. We need you to sign up. We don't have a plan B. A plan that can be dangerous and sometimes deadly. John Paul Gonzo, 10 News.

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