That may be true but this post specifically was made by the coniferous gang

The Australian mind can’t comprehend this

RIP to the bats that get eaten alive by fungus: https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2015/10/03/uc-researchers-combat-deadly-bat-fungus/. There’s a fungal infection called white nose syndrome that takes root in their respiratory system while they hibernate and kills them.

Second paragraph of the article OP linked to mentions he was a lifetime smoker. While the fires might exacerbate his symptoms, it sounds like he was already in very poor health.