Tributes for ‘genuine bloke’ and CFS firefighter Peter Curtis, 65, who died while battling blaze on Eyre Peninsula

Friends have remembered a “good humoured” 65-year-old firefighter, who died while battling a blaze at a conservation park on the Eyre Peninsula.

Family and friends of a “good humoured” firefighter who tragically died during an operation to contain a blaze on the Eyre Peninsula on Sunday, have paid tribute to the father and grandfather.

Father of four and grandfather of seven Peter Curtis, 65, has been described as “mischievous” and “a good comrade” on a fireground.

Peter’s cousin, Noel Curtis, 67, said his sudden death was a shock to the family and his wife Jackie.

“Jackie rang me about midnight (on Sunday) and she was doing OK, as well as you can be with something like that,” he said.

Growing up in Wirrabara in the Mid North, Noel remembered his “mischievous” and “good humoured” cousin saying they’d ride their motorbikes around a nearby water catchment and get into a bit of trouble.

CFS firefighter Peter Curtis died while fighting an Eyre Peninsula fire, aged 65. Picture: Supplied

“We’d spend a lot of our time growing up, just out in the bush,” Noel said with a smile.

“Nothing too silly, but we got into a bit of trouble every now and then.”

However, Noel said as Peter grew up and met Jackie, he started showing interest in flowers and trees, getting a job with a local beekeeper.

About 10 years later, he took over his father-in-law’s stone fruit orchard.

Peter started work with Forestry SA in the Wirrabara area in 1995 and in 2017 joined the National Parks and Wildlife Services Brigade of the CFS.

On Sunday, he was working with this brigade on a low-level blaze at Pinkawillinie Conservation Park, about 60km west of Kimba.

The crew launched a search operation on the ground and in the air when they noticed Peter was missing but when they located his body, he was unable to be revived.

Noel said Peter was known to many in the local community but was part of a quiet, private family.

“You’ve got to come to grips with the fact you’re never going to see him again,” he said.

“By the time you get to my age you’ve already lost a few friends but sometimes it’s just not who you thought it would be.”

Greg Pech, a close friend of Peter’s for 50 years, raised the Australian flag in Wirrabara at half mast on Monday morning.

“On the fireground, he was a good comrade,” said Mr Pech, 71, who often worked with Peter as a firefighter.

“You could trust that he’d watch your back.”

When The Advertiser spoke to Mr Pech, he referred to his friend as “our Peter Curtis” because of his impact on the Wirrabara community.

“He was a pretty down to earth, no nonsense bloke,” he said.

Peter was also a keen golfer.

Wirrabara Progress Association chairwoman Dianne Becker, who had known Peter for about two decades, remembered him as “always very friendly and helpful to others”.

“(His death) is a shock for everyone,” Ms Becker, 60, said.

She last recalled sharing “the banter at the market” with Peter earlier this month.

SA Country Fire Service Chief Executive Brett Loughlin paid tribute to Peter during a press conference on Monday.

“Our thoughts and indeed the thoughts of the entire fire and emergency services community are with his family, his friends and, of course, his colleagues,” Mr Loughlin said.

“Peter’s loss will be felt very keenly across the fire services.”

FS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin paid tribute to Peter Curtis after his death in the line of duty. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Mr Loughlin said while firefighting could be a “risky profession”, “the loss of any one of our firefighters is felt so incredibly by all our members across the state”.

“Peter was much-loved and deeply respected by everyone,” he said.

“He was admired for his dedication and he fought numerous fires in the area throughout his service.”

National Parks and Public Lands executive director Mike Williams said Peter would be remembered for “his diligence and hard work, especially in our region of the southern Flinders”.

He was known for educating and mentoring younger staff at the National Parks and Wildlife Service Brigade.

“He’ll be greatly missed by our staff and his friends,” Mr Williams said.

“We will wrap our arms around our staff and his family over the next few days.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, also an SA Senator, sent “deepest condolences” to Peter’s loved ones and colleagues.

“I know all South Australians will be thinking of his family and friends, and all those who risk their lives to keep us safe,” she said.

Emergency Services Minister Rhiannon Pearce said Peter’s death would be “deeply felt by all in the emergency services sector”.

“The role that Peter had isn’t necessarily something you do just for a career,” Ms Pearce said.

“He’s been deeply passionate about keeping his community safe for a very long time.

“We honour the work he has done over all these years.”

Peter’s death is the first line of duty death of a Parks and Wildlife Service firefighter.

The exact details of his death are yet to be revealed as they are subject to an investigation.

Originally published as Tributes for ‘genuine bloke’ and CFS firefighter Peter Curtis, 65, who died while battling blaze on Eyre Peninsula