Victim of Adelaide Hills bushfire named as police say a missing Lithgow man found alive and well

A community in the Adelaide Hills is mourning the “loving, generous” victim of a ferocious bushfire, whose body was found in his home yesterday.

The Adelaide Hills community is in mourning after the death of local engineer Ron Selth yesterday, who perished in a massive bushfire that tore through the region.

Police found Mr Selth’s body in his Charleston home, which was destroyed by the Cudlee Creek blaze that has scorched some 25,000 hectares of land in recent days.

“He will be remembered for his incredible, sometimes injury-causing hugs and will be deeply missed by his family and his many friends,” the 69-year-old’s family said in a statement.

“Some people give firm hugs – I don’t know what’s beyond firm, but that’s what Dad occasionally delivered. When he gave a hug, he meant it.”

Cudlee Creek fire victim Ron Selth was found dead at his Charleston property yesterday.

A photo taken flying into Adelaide showing fire burning in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Melissa Ellery

Neighbours have expressed their shock and grief, saying they had no idea he had remained inside his property as the ferocious blaze raged.

“I didn’t know the gentleman was up there,” Michael McFarlen told Nine.

“If I had have known, I would have jumped in this machine behind me, went and picked him up and brought him back here as the fire was getting closer.”

He described Mr Selth, an engineer who works for X-LAM Building Systems, as a “nice bloke”.

He is survived by his partner Suzy and their children Johanna, Luke and Jasmine, as well as six grandchildren, according to The Adelaide Advertiser.

“Ron was a loving, optimistic and generous man, who valued his relationships with family and friends more than anything else,” a family member told the newspaper.

“He built a highly successful engineering business that contributed to the design of thousands of buildings in SA, mainly in the Adelaide Hills, and is often described as having a unique and unforgettable character.”

At least 15 homes in the area were destroyed, along with 28 other buildings and a number of cars but those numbers are likely to rise as the gravity of the situation becomes clearer.

A man tires to save Secret Creek Animal Sanctuary in Cobar Park near Lithgow yesterday as bushfires continue to burn near the Blue Mountains. Picture: Tim Hunter

The tragic news comes as authorities in NSW confirm an elderly man who had been unaccounted for after a major blaze in Lithgow overnight has now been found safe and well.

Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons explained earlier that the resident had refused to leave, choosing to stay in a bid to save his property.

“There are some reports that the property (was) enveloped by fire and we cannot locate that man. We’re hoping that he has chosen to relocate somewhere but we just do not know.”

At midday on Sunday came the welcome news that the resident had been found and was safe.

At least eight homes have been lost in the Lithgow area despite the tireless efforts of rural fire crews to contain the massive Gospers Mountain blaze.

The evacuation centre at Lithgow Workies Club slowly filled with residents fleeing homes on Saturday, with NSW Families and Community Services pledging to assist evacuees seeking shelter.

Pat McFarlane at his home on Crane Road in Lithgow yesterday, which was destroyed by a bushfire. Picture: Tim Hunter

On Saturday, a man fighting to save his home in the Adelaide Hills was critically injured and remains in hospital in a serious condition.

Noted South Australian horse trainer John Glatz sustained significant burns as a fire threatened his home at Woodside.

That followed news on Friday night of 23 firefighters and several police suffering injuries while responding to emergencies in SA, with one firey rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

John Glatz was seriously injured while trying to save his home in the Adelaide Hills bushfire emergency.

Crews face significant dangers in the field, with unpredictable and relentless conditions confronting them.

There was a devastating reminder of the serious risk on Thursday, with the news of two volunteer rural fireys tragically losing their lives while battling a firestorm southwest of Sydney.

Andrew O'Dwyer (left) and Geoffrey Keaton (right) were tragically killed near the Green Wattle fireground, near Buxton in southwestern Sydney, on Thursday.

Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, were remembered as committed family men on Friday.

The two have been hailed as heroes as NSW residents prepare for a day of “catastrophic” fire danger which is almost certain to raze more homes.

With AAP