Victoria, Feb 17, 2009 A firefighter from Canberra has died after being hit by a falling tree near Marysville, north-east of Melbourne.
Police say the man was travelling in a fire tanker when the accident happened.

It is understood the firefighter was helping with the Victoria fires recovery effort.

No other firefighters were injured in the incident, including another firefighter sitting next to the man in the cabin.

The death of the Canberra man is the first firefighter casualty of the Victoria’s bushfire crisis, after t the tree crashed onto a fire tanker.

The remote area is high in the Yarra Ranges National Park, which was razed by bushfires.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the ACT Fire Brigade member’s death.