Bushfires devastate Australia and New Zealand: firefighter killed, homes lost

An Australian firefighter was killed while responding to bushfires that have destroyed homes and scorched large areas of bushland north of Sydney, authorities said on Monday.

The 59-year-old man died when a tree fell on him near the rural town of Bulahdelah, about 200 km (124 miles) north of Sydney. He suffered a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at the scene. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as “terrible news” and a stark reminder of the dangers faced by emergency service personnel. “We honour that bravery every day,” he added.

The tragedy happened as rapidly spreading fires swept across New South Wales’ Central Coast over the weekend, destroying 16 homes in towns north of Sydney. Resident Rouchelle Doust from Koolewong, a town roughly 90 km north of Sydney, recounted her family’s desperate attempt to save their home. “He’s up there barefoot, trying to put out the fire, and I’m yelling at him to come down,” she told ABC. “Everything was inside his grandmother’s belongings, his mother’s things, all my stuff, it's all gone.”

Emergency crews continue to battle more than 50 bushfires across New South Wales, with conditions complicated by extreme heat, strong winds, and rapidly changing fire behaviour. Authorities issued and later downgraded fire danger alerts overnight, but the Bureau of Meteorology warned that some inland towns could see temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) on Tuesday, heightening the risk of further fires.

In Tasmania, a 700-hectare (1,729-acre) fire at Dolphin Sands, about 150 km (93 miles) northeast of Hobart, destroyed 19 homes and damaged 40 others. Firefighting teams have contained the blaze, but officials warned residents not to return due to ongoing hazards.

Across the Tasman Sea, crews in New Zealand are combating a fire near Tongariro National Park, the country’s oldest national park and a popular hiking destination. By Monday afternoon, the fire had spread to 110 hectares (272 acres). Five helicopters and multiple ground teams are involved, and police have closed nearby roads and warned motorists to avoid the area. The fire follows a wildfire last month that burned 2,589 hectares (6,400 acres) of alpine bush.