Daniel 'Howie' Howard
Published Date: 17 Aug 2014
Summary
Daniel "Howie" Howard.....loved and remembered always.
Daniel "Howie" Howard. Source Daily Liberal
By Robyn Favelle
ABC News Firefighter dies in hotel blaze in Cobar, western NSW
Mayor pays tribute to firefighter killed fighting Cobar blaze
"An absolutely disastrous day for Cobar".
That is how Cobar mayor Lilliane Brady described Sunday's early-morning blaze that left a firefighter dead, another injured and destroyed an iconic local hotel.
A tearful Cr Brady paid tribute to 37-year-old Daniel Howard, an electrical contractor, part-time firefighter and family friend who lost his life after a wall collapsed at the Marshall Street site.
"He was a gorgeous young man, a beautiful and brave one that I felt honoured to know," she said.
She remembered Mr Howard as someone who was always willing to help out Cobar and its residents.
"We had a fundraiser to fix the cemetery after it was broken into and vandalised and he was one of the first to put his hand up to help out, he was one of the young chaps who sang at the fundraiser," she said.
"Even on a night when we were practising he got called out to a fire.
"I also remember his mother came all the way from Queensland to attend my husband's funeral.
"This is a big loss for Cobar, he was a real asset to the community".
Cr Brady said she was confident the Cobar community would rally to support those affected by the devastating fire.
Meanwhile Cr Brady said the community was saddened to have lost an iconic meeting place in the New Occidental Hotel.
"It's iconic, the first thing you see when you drive over the hill into Cobar and the last thing you see on the way out," she said.
The New Occidental Hotel was the second iconic western NSW pub to go up in smoke within a week, following a blaze that destroyed the Coolabah pub in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
WorkCover was informed of the incident and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Firefighter dies battling Cobar hotel blaze
A FIREFIGHTER has died and another was injured battling a blaze at Cobar's New Occidental Hotel early Sunday morning.
"It is with a heavy heart I confirm the death of a Fire and Rescue NSW officer in the state's west today," Minister for Emergency Services Stuart Ayres said.
"The officer was attending a fire at a hotel in Cobar when a wall collapsed and he suffered what is believed to be cardiac arrest.
"The officer was taken by ambulance to Dubbo Base Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
"As a member of Fire and Rescue NSW, this man selflessly dedicated his life to the safety of his community.
"On behalf of the people of NSW, our thoughts and prayers are today with the officer's family, friends and fellow firefighters" Mr Ayres concluded.
Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins said the whole firefighting community was devastated by the death and expressed condolences to the family and community of Cobar.
"Today we have lost a dedicated firefighter, committed to protecting his community.
"He lost his life protecting other people in his community and on behalf of all members of Fire & Rescue NSW I extend our deepest sympathies to firefighters, family and friends."
The second firefighter is being treated in hospital for non life-threatening injuries.
Commissioner Mullins is travelling to Cobar with other senior officers and staff from Fire and Rescue NSW's Critical Incident Support Team to be on hand to offer support and assistance to the family, firefighters and the community.
Crews were called to the New Occidental Hotel in Marshall Street just before 8am following reports the two-storey building was alight.
Ten people got out of the building before firefighters arrived, and three were helped out, according to a NSW Fire and rescue spokesperson.
He said the fire had spread to the roof and firefighters faced the additional task of dealing with gas cylinders at the back of the building.
Roads were blocked and traffic diverted around the scene.
