Video provided by Reuters

Tony Abbott blew off cabinet meetings and John Howard to fight fires and clear storm damage with his volunteer firefighter comrades, his brigade captain has revealed.

Mr Abbott joined the NSW Rural Fire Service in October 2000 and juggled firefighting with his 25-year political career.

The 62-year-old earlier this week told Daily Mail Australia joining the RFS was 'one of the best things I've ever done' and spoke of his admiration for his colleagues.

© Provided by Daily Mail Tony Abbott blew off cabinet meetings to fight fires and clear storm damage with his volunteer fire brigade (he is pictured mopping up a fire zone in a recent photo) Trent Dowling, captain of the Davidson brigade on Sydney's northern beaches, said Mr Abbott sometimes even chose his volunteer passion over politics.

He said while a minister in the Howard Government, Mr Abbott on multiple occasions would call in to say he couldn't make it to work.

© Provided by Daily Mail Mr Abbott tnce told John Howard (left) he was busy then left his phone in the fire truck. He picked it up hours later to a text from Howard saying ''you're out with the fire brigade, aren't you 'One time we were clearing storm damage and he was on the phone with John Howard when he was supposed to be in cabinet,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Howard said he really needed him for a meeting and Tony told the PM "I can't come into work today, I've got a few things to do".

'He left his phone in the truck and when he picked it up [hours later] there was a text from Howard saying ''you're out with the fire brigade, aren't you".'

Mr Abbott was workplace relations minister in 2001-03, health minister in 2003-07, and leader of the government in the House of Representatives in 2001-07.

Mr Dowling said Mr Abbott's profile brought him a lot of media attention that peaked during the 2013 election campaign.

© Provided by Daily Mail Mr Abbott's captain Trent Dowling (pictured together last year) said Mr Abbott sometimes chose his volunteer passion over politics

The brigade as a joke made dozens of Tony Abbott masks to troll the media when they followed him, and to poke good-natured fun at their celebrity colleague.

'We like taking the p**s. We've had a lot of fun over the years, and a lot of highs and lows from when he was elected to when he was replaced by Malcolm Turnbull,' he said.

'But just like every other RFS member we're there for him. We're there for people's christenings, weddings, we're there for their funerals.'

Mr Dowling said Deputy Captain Abbott was a model RFS officer who inspired other members to follow him into battle with raging bushfires.

'He comes out the dirtiest of his crew, he's a very hands on man, he wants to get in and be in the thick of it,' he said.

'He leads from the front, gets in and does all the nastiest, dirtiest stuff - he's either in front or right beside them.

'His attitude is inspirational. All our officers I tell to set the bar with what you do yourself.

'He'll go into anything and lead people into anything. The "action man" persona that's been cultivated over the years is true.'

© Provided by Daily Mail Mr Abbott, 62, earlier this week said joining the RFS was 'one of the best things I've ever done' and spoke of his admiration for his colleagues

Mr Dowling remembered one time in 2009 a hazard reduction burn got out of control and they ran up a hill to battle a spot fire.

'By the time we got to the hill it was just me and him left as everyone else got too tired,' he said.

'He's relentless and a really fit human being - and mentally hard, very determined.'

Mr Abbott's conservative politics, including his scepticism of climate change, are at odds with many of his colleagues, but Mr Dowling said it never mattered.

'One of Tony's best mates in the brigade was a direhard Labor voter - we used to call him Red Ned - and Tony gave half the eulogy at his funeral a year ago,' he said.

'There's even a couple of brigade members who are green voters and he's good mates with them.

'No one cares what you do outside - when you pull the yellow uniform that's how you're judged.'

By day, Mr Dowling, 42, is a senior executive at commercial real estate firm GPT and the 90-strong Davidson brigade has people from all walks of life including a PWC partner, the head of global banking at Westpac, and kids coming out of school.

Mr Abbott completed three five-day deployments in northern NSW between September and November, along with others all over the state.

© Provided by Daily Mail Mr Abbott was battling the fires near Balmoral on Thursday to Saturday and posed with a Highway Patrol officer

As other blazes flared up around Sydney this month, Mr Abbott has spent up to 10 days on the front line, including at Balmoral which was devastated last week.

His most recent action began when his crew arrived in nearby Bargo about 6pm on Thursday and mopped up after the worst of he fire had gone through.

The next day they was put out a spot fire and on Saturday night volunteered for a last-minute emergency relief crew.

'Firefighting is one of his passions and he's always said he wanted to be more involved in life after politics and since the election that's what's happened. He's been extremely active with us,' Mr Dowling said.

© Provided by Daily Mail Mr Abbott cooks sausages on Monday night at Davidson brigade's annual fundraiser, after returning from the fire front the day before Then on Monday night Mr Abbott was cooking sausages alongside Mr Dowling until about 10pm to raise money for the brigade.

Davidson station sets up a Christmas lights display on its street for the annual fundraiser with thousands of locals attending.

The effort also raises money, along with residents on the rest of the street, for Bear Cottage children's hospice in Manly.

Mr Abbott is expected to head back out to the fire front on Friday after celebrating Christmas with his family.