Mystery surrounds the death of firefighter who vanished while battling a blaze in South Australia
A firefighter with more than three decades of experience has died while fighting a minor bushfire.
Peter Curtis, 65, was part of a National Parks strike team sent to battle fires in a remote area west of Kimba, on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, but went missing on Sunday.
He had been working with his brigade on a low-level grass fire at Pinkawillinie Conservation Park before his team realised he was unaccounted for.
His disappearance triggered a ground and air search, but when his body was located he was unable to be revived.
CFS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin explained authorities would not be divulging further details surrounding Mr Curtis’ death.
‘The specific details of this incident are subject to investigation. I will not be drawing any speculation about may or may not have occurred at this point,’ he said.
Mr Curtis had around 30 years of firefighting experience and was described as ‘mischievous’ and ‘a good comrade’ by his colleagues.
He grew up in Wirrabara, Mid North SA, and took over his father-in-law’s stone fruit orchard.
Peter Curtis (pictured) died while serving on a firefighting strike team on Sunday
Mr Curtis was fighting a fire (pictured) in a remote area west of Kimba on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula
He started working for Forestry SA in 1995 and joined the National Parks and Wildlife Services Brigade of the CFS in 2017.
Mr Loughlin led the tributes to Mr Curtis.
‘Our thoughts and indeed the thoughts of the entire fire and emergency services community are with his family, his friends and, of course, his colleagues,’ he said.
‘Peter’s loss will be felt very keenly across the fire services.
‘Peter was much-loved and deeply respected by everyone.
‘He was admired for his dedication and he fought numerous fires in the area throughout his service.’
Peter’s cousin, Noel Curtis, 67, said his whole family was shocked by his sudden death.
‘We’d spend a lot of our time growing up, just out in the bush,’ he told the Adelaide Advertiser.
Mr Curtis (pictured) has been remembered as ‘mischievous’ and ‘a good comrade’ on a fireground
‘Nothing too silly, but we got into a bit of trouble every now and then.
‘…By the time you get to my age you’ve already lost a few friends but sometimes it’s just not who you thought it would be.’
Greg Pech, a close friend of Mr Curtis’ for 50 years, described the 65-year-old grandfather as a ‘good comrade’.
‘You could trust that he’d watch your back,’ he said.
Mr Curtis was the first death of a first line of duty Parks and Wildlife Service firefighter.
