Shire Deputy President Dies in WA Bushfire Fight

A farmer and local leader died on Monday afternoon while attempting to battle a bushfire threatening properties on his farm in West River, on Western Australia's south coast. Mark Mudie, the deputy president of the Shire of Ravensthorpe, was operating a frontend loader to create a firebreak when his vehicle became engulfed in flames, according to Western Australia Police. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident occurred around 2:20 p.m. near West River Road and Fitzgerald Road, about 400 kilometers southeast of Perth, in an agricultural region known for sheep farming. Mudie, who managed a 7,000-hectare family property with his wife and son, responded to the emergency to protect his land and nearby homes. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of his death and will prepare a report for the coroner. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and is not considered suspicious at this stage.

The blaze has scorched more than 4,000 hectares of farmland and continues to pose risks to the area. A bushfire watch and act warning is in place for residents bounded by South Coast Highway, Lake Road, Mallee Road, Fitzgerald Road, and Koornong Road in West...