The PM who does hold a hose: Volunteer firefighter Tony Abbott dons a breathing mask as he tackles out-of-control bushfire in New South Wales
- The former prime minister was filmed fighting bushfires in Bendalong, NSW
- Mr Abbott donned a breathing apparatus and heavy oxygen tank in 45C heat
- He has been a volunteer firefighter for 20 years, and has been praised for efforts
Tony Abbott has been filmed putting out a blaze on the NSW south coast, as the bushfire crisis continues.
The former prime minister donned a breathing apparatus and oxygen tank in 45C heat as he fought a fire that engulfed a home in Bendalong over the weekend.
He was captured putting on his heavy gear next to a fire truck before running into the smoking house.
Mr Abbott has been a volunteer firefighter for almost 20 years, and has been praised for his efforts this bushfire season.
In late December, he was pictured at the Bargo BP service station wearing the yellow uniform of his Davidson squadron before battling the Green Wattle Creek fire.
Tony Abbott (right) donned a breathing apparatus and oxygen tank in 45C heat
The former prime minister fought a fire that engulfed a home in Bendalong over the weekend
Mr Abbott took a few snaps with fans and the photos quickly went viral on social media.
The next day he helped put out a spot fire and then volunteered for a last-minute emergency relief crew.
Mr Abbott also completed three five-day deployments in northern NSW between September and November, along with others all over the state.
As other blazes flared up around Sydney last month, Mr Abbott spent up to 10 days on the front line.
Meanwhile, showers have brought some relief to firefighters but the RFS warns the rain won’t put out the largest and most dangerous blazes before conditions again deteriorate later this week.
Mr Abbott (left) has been a volunteer firefighter for almost 20 years, and has been praised for his work this bushfire season
At least 60 homes were destroyed in NSW during Saturday’s blazes, taking to 576 the number of houses razed since New Year’s Eve.
The RFS expects hundreds more will be confirmed lost in coming days, as assessment teams reach the hardest-hit towns.
Areas thought to be hardest hit on Saturday included Bundanoon, Wingello, Batlow, Adelong, the Jervis Bay area, Boydtown, Kiah, Wonboyn, Towamba and Cabramurra.
RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons on Monday told reporters two people are missing after Saturday’s fires – one south of Bombala and another to the west of Bedalla, both in southern NSW.
Mr Abbott also completed three five-day deployments in northern NSW between September and November, along with others all over the state. Pictured: fighting fires in Balmoral in December
Police and emergency services are attempting to locate the two people.
More than 135 bushfires were burning across NSW on Monday, including almost 70 uncontained. Almost 2500 firefighters are in the field.
‘I don’t think it will be too long before we are up over five million hectares of largely forested country burning along the Great Dividing Range from the Queensland border to the Victorian border,’ Mr Fitzsimmons said.
‘Overnight, with some of the thunderstorm activity, we have seen localised shower activity and we are expecting to see some of that over the coming days and less so once we get through to warm conditions later in this week.’
Conditions on Friday could again surpass 40C, prompting severe fire danger.