A NSW firefighter who died while battling a blaze north-west of Sydney last week was farewelled in a full honours funeral on Friday, with the Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner vowing not to let the tragedy become a “cliche”.
Decorated firefighter Michael Kidd was one of the first to arrive at the fire that had engulfed a house in Grose Vale in the Hawkesbury on December 12.
Michael Kidd, who worked with the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW, died fighting a fire in Grose Vale, north-west of Sydney this month.Credit: NSW Government
The luxury holiday home, which was advertised on Airbnb but not rented out at the time of the blaze, was gutted by the fire. As the crew worked to tame the blaze, a wooden beam fell on the 51-year-old, who died at the scene.
FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell knew Kidd and remembered him as an accomplished firefighter who gave his life to protect the community.
“Michael loved being a firefighter, whether that was with Fire and Rescue or Rural Fire Service, and he was bloody good at it,” Fewtrell said.
While his accomplishments as a firefighter were celebrated, Fewtrell acknowledged Kidd’s family paid the price for his selfless work.
Michael Kidd’s casket arrives at the service in a vintage fire truck.
“The incident last week at Grose Vale was one of thousands of incidents that Michael has attended over his years of service and each had its own dangers and risks. And while firefighting can be a dangerous activity, that does not make it OK that we have lost Michael. It is not something that we just accept – we say that Michael has made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
“But we need to make sure this is not a cliche or an empty platitude. Because it is a sacrifice paid not just by Michael, but by his family, his fellow firefighters and friends as we no longer have him.”
Joining Fewtrell in the pews of St Monica’s Catholic Church in Richmond was RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers, Premier Chris Minns and Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib, together with hundreds of family, friends and fellow firefighters.
Kidd joined the RFS as a volunteer in 1989, serving most recently with the Londonderry brigade, and worked as an on-call firefighter for Richmond Fire Station after joining Fire and Rescue NSW in 2010.
The luxury holiday home in Grose Vale was gutted by the fire.Credit: TNV
He was awarded a National Emergency Medal and a Premier’s Bushfire Citation for his efforts during the 2019-20 Black Summer fires. A year later, he was recognised with another medal for his years of service.
Last year, Kidd celebrated 25 years of marriage to Rebecca. He is also survived by his two adult children Lachlan and Samantha.
In a tribute from Rebecca Kidd, read out by FRNSW chaplain Lindsay Smith, Kidd was remembered as a proud father and husband, who bragged about his children to anyone who would listen. He was a dedicated father who would sit through musicals like Cinderella to keep his daughter happy.
In recent years, his transformative weight loss and fitness journey became one of his biggest passions. He was a keen runner, often taking to social media to share his accomplishments in marathons and the City to Surf.
“Michael died doing what he loved, helping others and putting others first,” Smith said.
Kidd’s sisters Belinda and Elizabeth tearfully shared memories of their childhood of “unforgettable adventures” with their big brother.
“As we say farewell to Michael, it’s important we remember the values he cherished: love, family and the importance of staying connected,” Elizabeth said.
A spokeswoman for NSW Police said inquiries into the cause of the fire were ongoing.
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