Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin says the New Zealand firefighters helping with the Queensland bush fires are in good spirits.
Photo: Supplied
The minister has been in Pechey near Toowoomba where a fire close to 10 times the size of the New Zealand Tasman fire, has been burning for two weeks.
There are currently 21 firefighters from New Zealand in Queensland helping with the fires.
Despite this, Ms Martin said the crew she visited today near Brisbane had smiles on their faces.
"Their faces were completely blackened with soot and ash, they were about to go and chop down another tree that was burning at the base that would be a danger to others, but full grins on their faces," she said.
Ms Martin said crews had been busy using their forestry skills.
"They've been clearing the main connections, roadways, motorways, putting out hotspots, digging over areas where we want to make sure that the fire doesn't kick off again," she said.
Ms Martin said there had been an additional request for another crew to come into New South Wales.
But the crews she visited today should be rotated out next week.
"They're thinking in this area [Queensland] they reckon they've mostly got it under control, although they are looking at some interesting weather on Monday, so never say never, but at this stage the crews I've talked to ... should be rotating out on the fifth," she said.