News of his death, which occurred when a fire tanker in which he was a passenger flipped in a paddock at Jingellic, has reverberated across the nation and well beyond.

Australians have been overwhelmingly united in their deep concern and distress as the bushfire crisis has gradually taken over one community, then another, then another over many weeks.

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But for the McPaul family, especially his widow, Megan, the death of someone loved so dearly is of an altogether different dimension.

It's a heartache they will always carry.

Newly married, with a baby on the way, Mr McPaul was described on Tuesday as a thoroughly decent, hardworking fellow, someone whose life was all about family and putting "community first".

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His selflessness in coaching young kids in basketball at Wagga and as a volunteer with the Morven brigade tells us only a small part of the 28-year-old's story.

When we hear of the loss of those on the fire ground, the images of immense walls of flames - as we have seen multiple times in recent weeks - probably come to mind.

But the reality of what happened in a paddock of a farm along River Road on Monday evening is far from that.

In an eloquent tribute, Rural Fire Service chief Patrick Westwood spoke of a "beautiful young man" who was "doing everything right" before a terribly wrong thing happened, a fire tornado so violent that a 10-tonne truck fully laden with water flipped over.

Our deepest sympathy goes to Mr McPaul's family for their loss.

Our thoughts are also with his fellow crew members who suffered burns.

We know also that the threat to many others in our communities remains, now and for the many weeks of summer that remain.

Our skilled and courageous firefighters are doing all they can to protect property, but clearly the utmost priority is preventing further loss of life.