A wildfire in New South Wales has sadly claimed the life of an Australian firefighter as he tackled the blaze near Bulahdelah, north of Sydney.

The 59-year-old was struck by a falling tree and suffered a cardiac arrest and died at the scene, officials said.

The fast-moving fire has destroyed homes and burnt large areas of bushland, as the state continues to battle against multiple wildfires. As of Monday 8th December, there were 52 wildfires burning across NSW and 9 remained out of control. A total of 20 homes have been destroyed over the weekend, said Trent Curtin, the Rural Fire Service Commissioner.

Speaking on the tragic loss of life, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said the “terrible news is a sombre reminder” of the dangers faced by emergency services personnel as they work to protect homes and families.

“We honour that bravery, every day,” Mr Albanese said in a statement.

Conditions in the area have eased since, allowing officials to downgrade fire danger alerts, although the weather bureau warned some inland towns in NSW could hit more than 40C (104F) on Tuesday, raising fire dangers.

Authorities have warned of a high-risk bushfire season during Australia’s summer months from December to February, with increased chances of extreme heat across large parts of the country following several relatively quiet years.

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