Canberra Firefighter Killed in Victoria

[First filed: February 17, 2009 @ 23:42]

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that an ACT Firefighter has been killed by a falling branch near Marysville in Victoria.

I am sure all Rioters thoughts are with their family and friends.

UPDATED: The ACT Emergency Services Agency has issued a media release on this sad event:

ACT firefighter killed on Victorian deployment

ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) Commissioner Gregor Manson regrets to inform the ACT emergency services family and the ACT community that one of our members has been killed in the firefighting effort in Victoria tonight.

“We are all in shock at the news we’ve received tonight and send our deepest sympathy to the firefighters family, friends and work colleagues,” Commissioner Manson said.

“I can advise that a large tree appears to have crashed onto one of our fire tankers at Cambarville resulting in an ACT Fire Brigade firefighter confirmed dead. Fortunately no other firefighters were injured,” he said.

“An Intensive Care Paramedic from the ACT Ambulance Service stationed with the deployment immediately provided critical medical assistance but was unable to save the firefighters life.

“The immediate family of the firefighters involved have been informed about this tragedy.”

“Family and friends of those ACT personnel in Victoria at this time may gain further information by contacting a special hotline at the ACT Emergency Services Agency headquarters in Curtin. The number is 6232 5639.”

“The circumstances of this tragic event which occurred while assisting Victoria fire authorities are still unclear and will be subject to a formal investigation and inquiry.”

ANOTHER UPDATE: The Liberals Zed Seselja and Brendan Smyth have put out a statement of condolence.

FURTHER UPDATE: The Canberra Times is now reporting that the fallen firefighter was David Balfour, 46, of Banks.

He is survived by a wife and three young children.

YET ANOTHER UPDATE: After three in the afternoon the Chief Minister’s office bestirred itself to offer condolences.

FINAL UPDATE: The ESA has published details of a trust for the Balfour family.

Anyone wishing to donate money to the Balfour family can do so in the following ways:

1. At any branch of the Commonwealth Bank. If depositing funds, please ensure that you include the reference details below i.e. BALFOUR or 139461;

2. Internet transfer
Account Name: Public Trustee Common Fund
BSB: 062920
Account Number: 10036944
Please ensure people use the reference BALFOUR or 139461 when depositing funds; or

3. In person at the ACT Public Trustee Office, ground floor ACTEW House, Canberrra City.

Biography of David Balfour and a message from his widow, provided by the ESA below:

Biography of David Balfour

David Balfour joined the ACT Fire Brigade on 31 October 1997.

Following graduation from the recruit college in early 1998, firefighter Balfour commenced operational shift work and over the next 11 years worked at the majority of the Brigades operational stations across Canberra.

Throughout his career David attained specialist qualifications in stage III Rescue and Urban Search & Rescue level 2. ??David qualified for the rank of senior firefighter in October 2002 and later qualified for the rank of Station Officer in October 2004.

In May 2004 he qualified as a fire investigator.

David worked as an instructor in the ACT Fire Brigade Recruit College for five months from December 2007 before returning to operational firefighting duties.

In 2008 David was selected through a merit selection process to participate in a Station Officers development process, with a view to possible promotion over the next twelve months as vacancies arose.

—

Statement from Celia Balfour

It is with my deepest regret that I inform friends, work colleagues and the greater Canberra community that my husband of twenty years and father of my three children aged 14, 13 and 10 David James Balfour has passed away. ?

David was a professional fire-fighter with the A.C.T. fire brigade for 11 years in which time he undertook specialised training in many key areas. ??He was on a task force from Canberra helping in the Victorian fire disaster. He was tragically killed when a tree, decimated by the fires, fell on him.

David served with distinction in the January 2003 Canberra fire disaster and felt that his deployment to Victoria was repaying a debt of honour to those that had come to our communities’ aid after our experience with tragedy.

The family and I are accepting of the fact that he was doing the best job he could to give back to the community for his fortunate life. ??David loved the fire brigade and the fire brigade family on whose behalf he worked hard, through the union, ensuring that brigade decisions were undertaken with consultation and in the best interests of the individual and the A.C.T. fire brigade as a whole, making it the best in Australia. Work smarter not harder to make a difference he used to say.?

David’s preparedness and attention to detail meant that no stone was unturned in whatever he did. With a memory unrivalled, you can be sure that if David said it was so then it was so. ??It seems fitting that if David should meet “George” his imaginary friend through circumstances beyond his control and way ahead of schedule that he would have chosen this way.

It is very true that behind every great man is a whole network of people who have his back including humbly the kids and I, and he will be sorely missed. Likewise he was my soul mate and anchor, he gave us direction as a family and he was very easy going with simple needs. A good cup of Earl Grey tea mostly…………

?“One drop in the pond sends out a ripple effect all the way to the edge of the pond.” ??“One life lived well empowers many.” These are my thoughts on how David lived his life and set his examples.

The message David always gave to our children was “Don’t waste your time.”
?
An investigation is underway into the tragedy and I ask for consideration and respect for my families’ privacy from the media and public. I understand that there is an overwhelming amount of goodwill and grief in the community that David served selflessly for so long and from David’s fire-fighting family. However, our grief is profound and we need time to adjust and accept the loss of our family anchor.?

My family ask that all requests for information from David’s work colleagues and friends be made through the ACT Fire Brigade who will direct them to the appropriate person.?? I ask that the media also direct any inquiries or requests through the ACT Emergency Services Agency Media and Community Information Unit.

Thank you for your consideration in my families’ time of grief.

Celia Balfour