Heroic CFS Firefighter Peter Curtis Mourned at Emotional Funeral: ‘A Man of Great Courage and Sacrifice’ Who Died in the Line of Duty
- A funeral service for Peter Curtis, the 65-year-old CFS firefighter who died battling a scrub fire on Eyre Peninsula, has been held in his hometown of Wirrabara.
- Mourners paid heartfelt tributes to the devoted father, adored grandfather, and committed firefighter, remembering his “great courage and sacrifice” as he died in the line of duty.
- An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is ongoing, with SafeWork SA continuing its enquiries.
Peter Curtis, a respected and beloved member of the Country Fire Service (CFS), was laid to rest in his hometown of Wirrabara, surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues who honoured his memory with emotional tributes.
As the coffin, adorned with a CFS flag, native wildflowers, and a firefighter’s helmet bearing his name, was carried into the outdoor service, mourners couldn’t help but reflect on the devastating loss of a hero who died doing what he loved.
In a heartfelt eulogy, Curtis’s daughter Acacia poignantly described her father as a man who “preferred the silence and the peace”, and whose “time blessed him with compassion, wit, and intelligence”. “A community now misses a quiet contributor,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
Personal effects, including his firefighting gear, were on display, serving as a poignant reminder of the sacrifice Curtis made in the line of duty. His son Thomas described him as a hard worker and a committed, caring father who always pushed himself to take risks and somehow pulled them off. “Dad wasn’t just a hard worker – he had thick skin but one of the softest hearts,” Thomas said, fighting back tears.
CFS chief officer Brett Loughlin, who attended the service, had previously described Curtis as a “tragic loss in the line of duty”, with an investigation ongoing into the circumstances surrounding his death. SafeWork SA confirmed that its enquiries were continuing.
As the service drew to a close, firefighting colleagues and friends spoke tenderly of Curtis, remembering him as a “hell of a bloke” who “put his hand up to help wherever and whenever he was needed”. One friend described him as “honest”, “caring”, and “deeply committed” to others, while another said he was a “good operator” who “led from the front” and was “just a bloody good bloke to have around”.
As the final farewell was said, Curtis’s loved ones took comfort in the knowledge that his legacy would live on through the countless lives he touched and the brave sacrifice he made in the line of duty. “You have finished with the fire hose, hang up your helmet, put away your chainsaw,” one friend said. “Rest in peace, Pete.”