A firefighter has died while battling a bushfire in South Australia. South Australia’s Country Fire Service (CFS) announced on Monday that Peter Curtis died “in the line of duty” at Pinkawillinie Conservation Park on the Eyre Peninsula on Sunday afternoon.
An urgent search was launched for Curtis after fellow firefighters from the National Parks and Wildlife Service brigade strike team realized he was unaccounted for. The CFS said the efforts were part of a coordinated response to protect the park and surrounding communities under challenging conditions.
Curtis began his firefighting career with ForestrySA in 1995 and transferred to the National Parks and Wildlife Service in 2017, serving as a strike team leader and sector commander. The CFS described him as deeply respected for his skill, leadership, and generosity in mentoring others.
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding his death. The blaze at Pinkawillinie remains ongoing, first reported on Saturday, according to the SA CFS website.
Two other grass fires in Canowie and Malinong are being controlled, while total fire bans are in place for Monday in the Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, and Mid North districts until midnight. Residents are urged to implement their bushfire survival plans and stay updated via the SA CFS website.
