A young volunteer firefighter was tragically killed and two others were injured while battling fires at Green Valley in southern NSW.
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Samuel McPaul, 28, died after his truck rolled when hit by extreme winds associated with the fire near Jingellic yesterday.
In a NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) statement it said the the firefighters had be working on the Green Valley, Talmalmo Fire, around 70km east of Albury when it happened.
Two firefighters on the same truck suffered burns and were taken to hospital.
A second vehicle working in the same area was also blown over and the firefighters on board was transported to hospital.
"The service's thoughts are with all the firefighter's families, friends and fellow brigade members," the statement said.
On Facebook this morning, the NSW RFS posted: "The NSW Rural Fire Service firefighter killed at the Green Valley Fire, east of Albury is Samuel McPaul from the Morven Brigade in the Southern Border Team.Today Service flags will be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect.Our thoughts are with Sam's family, friends and fellow Brigade members".
Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted overnight saying it was "awful" news for the families.
"These are testing times. We are so grateful for the courage and dedication of our firefighters," Mr Morrison tweeted.
The death toll from this fire season has now risen to nine,
​December 30 fire update
As dangerous fire conditions continue to ravage across NSW, there have already been 911 homes destroyed this fire season.
At 12pm today, NSW Rural Fire Service said there were 97 fires burning across the state with almost half yet to be contained.
With high temperatures and strong winds expected today and New Years Eve, a total fire ban has been issued for 10 regions including Greater Sydney, Far South Coast, Monaro Alpine, Southern Ranges, Central Ranges, Southern Slopes, Eastern and Southern Riverina.
"We will be seeing a further increase in temperatures and winds continue in the south east part of NSW," an RFS spokesperson said.
"There is also dry thunderstorms predicted this afternoon that could bring lightning that would start new fires in an area where there is existing fires."
So far this season, 3.6 million hectares of land has burned - around the same size as Belgium and 358 properties have been damaged.
More than 15,800 buildings have been saved as NSW RFS building impact assessment teams continue to working their way through fire affected areas across the state, to assess the damage to properties.
Due to the extraordinary work done by crews over the Christmas period, NSW RFS states on its website that the Grose Valley Fire has been listed as contained.
Journalist based on the Mid North Coast for The Land.
Journalist based on the Mid North Coast for The Land.
