A firefighter has died at the scene of a blaze in South Australia’s northern Eyre Peninsula, the Country Fire Service has confirmed.
The service said Peter Curtis died “in the line of duty” at Pinkawillinie Conservation Park and that an investigation would examine the circumstances of the incident.
SA CFS chief executive Brett Loughlin said an “immediate search” for Mr Curtis was launched after firefighters determined there was an unaccounted-for member on the fireground.
“During the course of that search, firefighter Peter Curtis was located and sadly was unable to be revived,” he said.
“Peter’s loss will be felt very keenly across the fire services … and our thoughts and our prayers are with his friends and family.”
Mr Loughlin said the fire started Saturday evening and was believed to have been sparked by lightning.
“The specific details of this incident are obviously subject to an investigation and I can’t go into them further at this point in time and I won’t be drawn on any speculation on what may or may not have occurred at this point,” he said.
Emergency Services Minister Rhiannon Pearce said it was a “tremendously sad occasion” and that support had been offered to Mr Pearce’s family.
Earlier, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas told reporters he would speak publicly about the incident “once appropriate processes have gone through”.
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