NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has been reticent to raise the issues with Mr Morrison and Ms Berejiklian amid the ongoing crisis, focusing resources on fighting fires which have now burned through 3.4 million hectares in the first weeks of summer. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "The fact that they haven't asked for federal support indicates that they believe they have the situation in hand," Mr Holton said. "That is definitely not the case. The situation is quite the opposite. It is out of control." He said volunteers had spent hundreds of dollars on fuel driving to and from strike teams up to three hours away.

"Why aren't we picking up the tab for legitimate expenses like we do for paid people?" Mr Holton said this could take the form of tax breaks for volunteers or expenses being refunded in tax returns. Self-employed firefighters were particularly exposed with no company support to fall back on. "They volunteer as much as they can afford, sometimes even more than they can afford," he said. "It is not sustainable." Why aren't we picking up the tab for legitimate expenses like we do for paid people? Mick Holton Firefighters have also had to crowd-fund masks as the severity of the smoke has deepened. Mr Holton estimated purchasing the $350 masks for an estimated 6000 volunteers would cost taxpayers $2.1 million.

"Basically, they [the government and RFS] are saying keep chewing smoke and we will have a look at it after the fire season," he said. Mr Morrison said once the crisis had passed, the government would review how they could better support fire commissioners to raise a volunteer force. Prime Minister Scott Morrison tours the bushfire affected regions of the Blue Mountains. Credit:Wolter Peeters "Australia's system all around the country has always, and will always, depend on having a large volunteer force to deal with these issues. When people join these organisations, they do it to protect their community and do it out of a sense of great service," he said. "The challenge is the duration of these fires during this season.

"I've heard some stories which would make folks out there just shake their heads, but now is not the time to go into it. Let's get through this first, and then let's sit down with all of the relevant people." Mr Holton said Mr Morrison "obviously doesn't look at social media" and as the fires had endured, the need for financial and other support had become more urgent. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers visit The Darling Causeway. Credit:James Brickwood Ms Berejiklian said the NSW government would provide the RFS with all the resources they need. "We have always said to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner if there is more we need to do, we will," she said.

Loading Labor leader Anthony Albanese on Monday proposed a new national strategy that would examine funding, aerial support and compensation for volunteers and businesses who support staff while they are fighting fires. He ramped up pressure on the government to use the fires as a catalyst to take further action on climate change amid international condemnation of Australia's response. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg criticised the Morrison government's response to the fires on Monday. "Not even catastrophes like these seem to bring any political action," she said. "How is this possible?"