A revered rural fire captain has died while responding to a car blaze in regional New South Wales, just hours after a firefighter was killed in a house blaze in Sydney.
Group Captain Dale Bowles is being remembered as “energetic, dedicated and accomplished” following a fatal medical episode on the way to the fire in Moama, in the Riverina district of southern New South Wales, on Tuesday afternoon.
Fellow Rural Firefighting Service (RFS) firefighters provided first aid until paramedics arrived, but nothing could be done to save him.
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“Group Captain Bowles will leave a lasting imprint through his years of dedicated service to his local community and further afield across the state,” RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said.
“My thoughts and thanks are with his fellow brigade members who provided assistance.
“Dale’s passing at this time of year adds an extra layer of sorrow, and we are steadfast in our commitment to stand by his family and brigade colleagues during this challenging period.”
Bowles became a highly regarded mentor to members of the Womboota Rural Fire Brigade after joining in 2015.
He served across the state and earned several accolades, including a Commissioner’s Commendation for Service for his work in challenging floods in 2022, the Premier’s Bush Fire Citation in 2020 and the National Emergency Medal.
“I have seen first-hand the dedication and selflessness of volunteer RFS firefighters who commit to safeguarding others across NSW. Group Captain Dale Bowles exemplified this commitment,” Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said.
“This devastating loss of an accomplished member of the RFS will impact the wider emergency services community.
“Our thoughts are with his family and fellow RFS brigade members at this time, as we pay tribute to his committed service as a member of the RFS.”
As a tribute to the late firefighter, his family have launched a campaign aiming to raise funds for the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Fallen firefighters
Bowles’ death came just hours after Michael Kidd was killed while responding to a blaze at a multi-million dollar property in Grose Vale, in NSW on Tuesday morning.
7NEWS understands Kidd collapsed after he was hit by a falling beam.
The double tragedies follow the death of volunteer firefighter Leo Fransen who was killed by a falling tree in November.
Fransen’s brigade had recently travelled hundreds of kilometres to help battle a blaze in northern NSW.
The crew from Diamond Beach, on the mid-north coast, was on its first day of a three-day deployment to fight the 21,370ha fire when he was killed.
A volunteer firefighter died after suffering a medical episode while battling a fire in regional NSW in October.
The emergency unfolded in Bean Creek, in the Kyogle region.
