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There's been an outpouring of grief from for a young volunteer firefighter who died battling a bushfire near Esperance in Western Australia.
Harry Stead is being remembered as "kind" and "always willing to help", as the local community comes to terms with the 20-year-old's death while he helped fight an out-of-control blaze on Boxing Day morning.
"To lose someone so young protecting the community is a tragedy," Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said.
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Stead's family today released a loving and emotional statement on their loss.
"Our family is forever broken," the statement read.
"We are immensely proud of Harry and all that he achieved and at 20 we thought it was just the beginning.
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"We had all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Day with the extended family … Harry made every part of the day fun.
"Harry was kind, fun-loving and active and always there to help with family and with the community."
The volunteer firefighter of about three years was working with a crew battling a bushfire near the family property in Coomalbidgup when it's understood he fell from a fire appliance owned by his family.
"That was about looking after their property, their neighbour's property and their neighbour's neighbour's property," Fire Commissioner Darren Klemm said.
"I do know that they were dealing with particularly difficult weather conditions down there yesterday – really strong northerly breeze which created a lot of issues for them."
Stead is the son of well-known local farmer Simon Stead, who runs agriculture company CBH.
The footy lover graduated from Hale School in 2020 and had been back at the school since the start of the year, working as a duty master in the boarding house.
Hundreds of tributes poured in today after the news of his tragic death, including one from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
"Deepest condolences to all those who knew and loved Harry Stead," he said.
A private fire company in Canada even wrote a message on Facebook in honour of Stead.
"From the great white north to the land down under, our sincere condolences for this tragic loss of life," the company said.
The fire that claimed Stead's life has since been downgraded to an advice level and is no longer a threat to lives and homes.
