CFA in mourning for crash volunteer

COLLEAGUES and politicians have paid tribute to a Country Fire Authority volunteer who was killed yesterday

COLLEAGUES and politicians have paid tribute to a Country Fire Authority volunteer who was killed yesterday when the tanker he was driving rolled on the way to help mop up a fire.

Hugh Monroe, 62, of Tolmie, in northeast Victoria, was killed when the CFA truck rolled while negotiating a bend along a track on Spring Creek Road at Tatong, north of Mansfield, about 6.30am.

Three men and a woman were injured in the crash, with two men in serious condition after being flown to Royal Melbourne Hospital and The Alfred.

The truck had been on its way to work on the remnants of the Lake Mokoan fire when the accident occurred. The Victoria Police major collision investigators will prepare a report for the coroner.

Chief fire officer Russell Rees said it was a sad day for the CFA.

"Our condolences go to the family and the broader CFA family," Mr Rees said. "This is a sad event. It reinforces once again the dedication and commitment of our people across the emergency services, but particularly the volunteers who get up out of bed while you and I are slumbering away on a Sunday morning and go and do work for their community."

Victoria's Acting Premier, Rob Hulls, praised the dedication of CFA volunteers. "I think it really reinforces that CFA volunteers really put their life on the line, and this is certainly very clear by what occurred," he said.

"A volunteer going to Lake Mokoan fire to further blacken out particular areas has tragically lost his life, really trying to protect the lives of others."

Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu also paid tribute to Mr Monroe, who fought in the Black Saturday bushfires. "Hugh Monroe was a highly experienced and long-term CFA volunteer who had fought many significant fires," he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AAP