Volunteer firefighter in ICU with critical burns

A volunteer firefighter is fighting for his life in a Brisbane hospital after being caught in a sudden wind change while battling a bushfire.

Neville Smith is fighting for life after sustaining critical burns fighting a bushfire. Picture: Supplied

A VOLUNTEER firefighter is fighting for life in a Brisbane hospital after sustaining critical burns while battling a bushfire on Friday.

Neville Smith, 66, is in a critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH), where he was taken after sustaining life-threatening burns in a bushfire in Northern NSW.

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Mr Smith had been battling an out-of-control fire at a property in Tenterfield on Friday when it surged up towards him and a colleague.

Local Councillor Bronwyn Petrie was fighting a blaze nearby and drove Mr Smith to the local hospital where he was stabilised and then flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where he remains in the Intensive Care Unit.

Neville Smith is fighting for life after sustaining critical burns fighting a bushfire. Picture: Supplied

Ms Petrie said the pair were caught in a sudden wind change.

They were in what was considered a safe location and then it just came up with an incredible gust and wind change,” said Ms Petrie

“It just changed so quickly.

“The fire truck was lost, I couldn’t even see it burning because of the smoke.”

Despite suffering burns to his hands, arm, legs, back, face and airways, the 66-year-old’s first concern was his colleague, who had been nearby when their truck was engulfed, Ms Petrie said.

“He was in a lot of pain but very stoic,” she told AAP.

“Half his trousers were missing, his jacket had been alight ... his first words were ‘Ring (colleague) Bill and make sure he’s okay’, rather than worrying about himself.

“Hopefully he’ll make a really good recovery. It was just awful.”

Ms Petrie toldthe Courier-Mail today she had been in touch with the hospital and Mr Smith’s family this morning to check on his condition.

A NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman said the Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons was receiving regular updates on the brave volunteer from his family.

Flames engulfed the Tenterfield region. Picture: NSW Rural Fire Service

“Sadly, this injury serves as a sobering reminder about how dangerous the conditions are, and the risks that our firefighters take to protect their communities,” the NSW Rural Fire Service said in a statement on Saturday.

Ms Petrie said that while has seen many bushfires over the years as a volunteer firefighter, this year’s conditions have been horrific.

The town dam has less than six months’ supply left due to the drought across NSW, and locals have not been able to water their lawns, leaving the town “tinder dry”, she said.

“The farmers are already doing it very tough and this has just made it devastating,” Ms Petrie said.