The death of a NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) firefighter near Bulahdelah overnight is a solemn reminder of the dangerous work done by fire crews to protect our communities.
Nationals Senator for NSW and Shadow Minister for Emergency Management, Ross Cadell, paid tribute to the man who was struck by a falling tree at Nerong on Sunday evening.
"Our volunteer and paid firefighters do an incredible job to keep our communities safe in the toughest of conditions," Senator Cadell said.
"This tragic death is a reminder of the risks faced by those working to protect our communities.
"I extend my thoughts to the family and friends of the victim including those who continue to battle the large number of bushfires burning across the state."
Confirmation of the man's death follows a difficult 48-hours across NSW which saw more than 20-homes destroyed across multiple firegrounds including at Koolewong on the Central Coast.
Senator Cadell warned this could be just the beginning of a difficult fire season across Australia and called on communities to do their part to prepare.
"Whether you live in a regional community accustomed to bushfires or not, now is the time to make sure you are prepared and know what to do in an emergency," he said.