The only occupant of the car which hit the Otematata River bridge on State Highway 83 was 21-year-old fireman and labourer Thomas Terry Jopson, who had joined the brigade in his late teens.
His father, Kelvin, is also a member of the brigade and last year was awarded a Silver Bar for long service.
Otematata fire chief Mike Thomas said Thomas Jopson had been a "valuable member" of the brigade for about four years.
"Every member of the crew is valuable, and he was one of those. He was there when the hooter went, always there to help and was very professional," he said.
Mr Thomas said it was a traumatic time for members of the close-knit brigade.
The crash occurred about 4.20am on State Highway 83, just east of Otematata.
Senior Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said police arrived about 4.30am to find fire crews from Kurow, Otematata and Omarama already there.
Mr Jopson had been travelling east when his car hit the western end of the bridge abutment.
A nurse from Kurow and the serious crash unit from Central Otago also attended.
The dead man was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and no other parties were involved in the crash.
The cause is yet to be determined, but Senior Sergeant Anton Tenhove of Southern Police Communications said there was no indication poor weather was a factor.
