Two volunteer firefighters killed in a fire-truck accident in New South Wales (NSW) have been identified as young dads.
Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, died when a tree fell on their truck on Thursday.
Local media revealed the pair both had 19-month-old babies who were born two days apart.
The men, along with three firefighters, were driving on their way home after a long day fighting the wildfires in Green Wattle Creek, Buxton, NSW when the accident occurred.
The three other firefighters were injured and have been hospitalised.
The Rural Fire Service is devastated with the loss of the two firefighters.
"Our thoughts are with the firefighters' family, friends and fellow NSW RFS team" the RFS posted on Twitter.
Geoffrey Keaton was the deputy captain of the Horsley Park Brigade and a former member of the Plumpton Brigade.
He joined the New South Wales Rural Fire Service in 2006.
Keaton had a family history of fire fighting.
In a heartbreaking coincidence, when he was helping put out the flames in Green Wattle Creek, a fire that may have destroyed 40 houses, his father, John, was dousing the flames on the Gospers Mountain, northwest of Sydney.
O'Dwyer was part of the same brigade and joined the service in 2003.
The pair were described as brave young men.
"These two brave young men who lost their lives represent, for us, the thousands and thousands of volunteers on the ground today and tomorrow and in the days coming, who put their own life, their own safety on the line to protect others," said Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian.
Because of the fire, residents have had to flee their homes.
One man told Newshub, it was a miracle his house was saved.
"It was just a massive firestorm, it was like a wall of fire."
Flames were even too fierce for firefighters.
One exhausted firefighter told Newshub, the fires are too full on.
Australian Prime minister Scott Morrison has been heavily criticised for holidaying in Hawaii while Australia burns.
On Friday he apologised for the trip saying he'll be back in Sydney on Saturday.
