A contractor for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has died while fighting bushfires in East Gippsland in Victoria.
Victoria Police said the 69-year-old man died after the vehicle he was driving rolled down an embankment in Gelantipy on Saturday.
WorkSafe is investigating the death and Victoria Police has prepared a report for the coroner.
Victoria Police Inspector Mark Edwards said the man died at the scene.
"It's an absolute tragedy. For anybody who is helping the community fighting fires it's just horrendous," he said.
"He was using a vehicle on private property off the Gelantipy Road when the vehicle has rolled."
Emergency Management Victoria incident controller Peter Brick said counselling was available for staff who continue to work on control lines on fires in East Gippsland.
"Tragically one of the contractors working with us, supporting our firefighters on the fire line near the W Tree Snowy Divide Track fire, has died as a result of a car accident," Mr Brick said.
"It really hits everyone hard. Our thoughts are with his friends, family, and all the workmates and colleagues.
"As you can imagine the firefighting community, including all our contractors, it's quite a tight-knit community.
"Everyone tends to know each other in these parts.
"The impacts are really far and wide, we are mindful of that … and we are making sure we are looking out for and supporting each other."
