A volunteer firefighter has died while responding to a bushfire threatening homes near Esperance in Western ‘s south.
The incident happened after the blaze ignited near Neds Corner Road and Yerritrup Road, in Coomalbidgup, about 60 kilometres west of Esperance’s in WA’s south around 8.15am on Tuesday.
He was part of a crew in a ‘private firefighting vehicle’ responding to the blaze, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said in a statement on Tuesday night.
Ambulance crews were called to the fire ground on Tuesday afternoon after a man was understood to have fallen from a fire truck, the West n reported.
The fire began on Tuesday morning and burnt more than 7000 hectares.
A firefighter has died after battling an out-of-control blaze in Coomalbidgup, near Esperance in Western on Tuesday (pictured a firefighter holds a hose at the scene of the fire)
The fire (pictured) burnt more than 7000 hectares as emergency crews rushed to the scene to battle the terrifying blaze
An emergency alert has been issued for parts of Coomalbidgup and Cascade with residents in the affected areas urged to leave if they can.
A number of roads have been closed.
DFES said there will be an investigation into the man’s death and WA Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
A spokesperson for WA police told Daily Mail they are investigating the man’s death.
‘At this time, it is believed the man was responding to a fire on a neighbouring farming property using a private fire appliance,’ the spokesperson said.
‘The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death, including his involvement in the response to the fire, is ongoing.’
Detectives from the Arson Squad will head to Perth on Wednesday to continue their investigations into the incident.
In recent days several emergency-level bushfires have engulfed homes and ripped through bushland, rural properties and suburbs on Perth’s fringes, while firefighters have battled dozens of blazes across the state.
Fire fighters have been battling dozens of fires raging across WA with dozens of fires tearing through bushland (pictured) and homes and properties engulfed
The firefighter is was understood to have fallen from a fire truck (pictured a fire truck at the scene of the blaze)