Farmer helping firefighting efforts tragically killed by fallen tree while patrolling Mindarabin bushfire

A young farmer was killed by a burnt tree falling on his vehicle during a bushfire in the Great Southern on Tuesday. The 34-year-old man was killed about 8pm, a police spokesperson has confirmed. He was patrolling the then fast-moving Mindarabin blaze, which was still burning but stationary on Wednesday. The incident occurred while the man was driving along Old Ongerup Road, south of the main fire ground. Police confirmed the man had been helping firefighting efforts as part of a local farmer response unit. He sustained critical injuries as a result of a tree falling on the cab of his vehicle and died at the scene. His death is not being treated as suspicious, and a report will be prepared for the coroner. His death marks the second fire-related loss in the Great Southern this month, following the December 1 death of Shire of Ravensthorpe deputy president Mark Mudie. Mr Mudie, 59, was operating a front-end loader while desperately trying to establish a fire break on his West River farm, when his vehicle was engulfed in flames. Minister for the Great Southern Reece Whitby said the 34-year-old’s death on Tuesday was “enormously tragic” and sent his condolences to the man’s loved ones. “As a former emergency services minister, I know both career and volunteer firefighters put their lives on the line every time they attend a fight, and it can be incredibly dangerous out there on the fire front,” he said. “These men and women do so because they’re part of their communities that they want to help and serve and protect their community. “Their actions save lives. Their actions, save property. “But this is incredibly devastating news close to Christmas that we have lost, it appears, another person in our Great Southern, who is out there involved in a fire operation.” Roe MP Peter Rundle said he was “devastated” to hear about a second fire-related death in his electorate. “The loss of a young volunteer who stepped forward to protect others is profoundly heartbreaking, and it is a stark reminder of the very real risks faced by those who serve on the front line to keep our communities safe,” he said. “This tragedy is made even more devastating by the fact that it is the second life lost to bushfire in my electorate in just one month. “Communities are exhausted, hurting and grieving, and the cumulative toll of this fire season is being felt deeply across the region.” The Mindarabin bushfire ignited on Tuesday at 12.18pm and has since burnt across 5542ha. It sparked three emergency warnings for residents in parts of Jackitup and Mindarabin in the Shire of Gnowangerup before it was downgraded to a watch and act level alert at 6.22pm. The fire was further downgraded to an advice level alert at 8.40am on Wednesday morning. More than 120 career, volunteer, SES and farming unit firefighters were on the scene battling the blaze at its peak on Tuesday afternoon. The bushfire is burning between Jackitup and Mindarabin, about 30km east of Gnowangerup. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said the fire is now stationary but not yet controlled or contained. Firefighters remain on scene to strengthen the containment lines. More to come.