Ravensthorpe deputy shire president Mark Mudie killed in West River fire
Mark Mudie was killed while trying to protect his farm from a bushfire. (Supplied: Shire of Ravensthorpe)
In short:
Mark Mudie, 59, has been identified as the farmer killed while battling a fire near Ravensthorpe on WA's south coast.
Mr Mudie was the Shire of Ravensthorpe's deputy president and a respected member of the farming community.
His family have described him as a "great community man" who was on the cusp of retirement.
A farmer who died trying to stop a "treacherous" fire from destroying his family's property in WA's south has been identified as the local town's deputy shire president.
Mark Mudie, 59, was operating a front-end loader to establish a firebreak on his property in West River near Ravensthorpe on Monday afternoon.
His vehicle became engulfed by flames and he died at the scene.
Mr Mudie was the Shire of Ravensthorpe's deputy shire president and a well-known member of the community in WA's Great Southern.
Mark Mudie was the deputy shire president at the Shire of Ravensthorpe. (Supplied: Shire of Ravensthorpe)
'Great community man'
Mr Mudie was a respected member of the farming community in Ravensthorpe, where he and his wife Elaine have farmed for the last 35 years.
"He was a family man and a great community man and just a passionate guy who was passionate about farming," his son Nathan said.
"He's going to be greatly missed, especially in the community. It's going to be tough for the whole community and of course for our family.
"We're all grieving now."
Mark Mudie with his wife Elaine. (Supplied)
The couple were in the midst of another busy harvest, with retirement plans on the horizon.
"Mum and dad just built a beautiful house in Denmark," Nathan said.
"And that was his plan — take a step back and do less farming and enjoy his retirement a lot more with my mum."
Supportive community
Mr Mudie's family thanked the many members of the community who had reached out in the wake of his father's death.
"Everyone's going to find this phase tough and we're very lucky that we live in such a good supportive community," he said.
The bushfire, which is still not contained, swept through 5,000 hectares in peak harvest season.
Authorities described conditions on the fireground as "treacherous".
Mark Mudie, third from the right with his wife Elaine, was a highly respected member of the local community. (Supplied)
"It was hot, gusty winds — crews were under a lot of pressure and a lot of heat," DFES incident controller Stephen Petersen said.
Nathan said his father, an experienced member of the local bushfire brigade, was "trying to do the best he could" but the conditions made for a "crazy day".
"Everyone did their best and some fires you just can't slow down," he said.
"And it was just one of those days where the conditions, you just can't do a lot about, and everyone's still out there now, working hard to try and get it all under control."
The region's local MP, Peter Rundle, paid tribute to Mr Mudie in parliament on Tuesday.
"I know him well and have talked to him about many issues in the in the Ravensthorpe community," he said.
"Can I pass on my condolences and I'm sure those of everyone in the parliament."
Premier Roger Cook told parliament "all our hearts go out to the community and the family" of Mr Mudie.
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