A firefighter was killed while combating wildfires that have destroyed about 40 homes across two Australian states, authorities reported Monday.
The 59-year-old man was struck by a falling tree Sunday night while fighting a blaze near Bulahdelah in New South Wales. The fire had burned through 3,500 hectares (8,650 acres) of woodland and destroyed four homes over the weekend, according to Rural Fire Service Commissioner Trent Curtin. Attempts to resuscitate the firefighter were unsuccessful. Curtin warned the fire could take several more days to fully contain.
On Monday, 52 wildfires were burning across New South Wales, with nine still uncontrolled. The weekend had already claimed 20 homes in the state.
In Tasmania, 19 homes were destroyed by a wildfire over the weekend in the coastal town of Dolphin Sands, local official Dick Shaw told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Although the fire had been contained by Monday, roads remained closed and authorities said it was not yet safe for residents to return.
