NSW man 'lost his job' for rushing off to fight bushfires

A former council worker says he lost his job after taking three days off work to help protect his parent’s home from a savage bushfire on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

Beau Carroll headed to Bobin to help defend his parents home from a raging fire from Monday through to Wednesday, and claims that by Thursday his contract had been terminated, Newcastle Herald reported.

The former labour hire worked at the City of Newcastle, contracted through Forsythes Recruitment, and believes he was let go because he took time off to help his family battle the blaze.

The 34-year-old, who confirmed his story to Yahoo News Australia, said after eventually reaching an area on Thursday which had mobile service, he had a message from the recruitment agency telling him there was no shift for him the following day.

There was also reportedly a message from council supervisors informing him that his services were not required for the remainder of the week.

He said that in a subsequent phone call with the agency he was told council had terminated his contract because of an apparent ongoing issue with being late for work, an accusation he denied.

“It was not what I wanted to come back to. I was always punctual. I was not late, ever. I had not received any disciplinary warnings,” he told the publication.

“They basically sacked me because I hadn't turned up that week.”

The City of Newcastle has since rejected Mr Carroll’s suggestion that his “short-term contract ended due to him fighting bushfires”.

“The reasons for the termination are well known to Mr Carroll and the labour hire company through which he was employed,” a spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia.

“City of Newcastle offers its permanent staff up to five days additional paid leave annually if they participate in volunteer work during a natural disaster, such as the recent bushfires.

“One employee has submitted a request for four days volunteer emergency service leave in the past fortnight.”

• Air tankers flown in to fight Victorian blazes, as NSW and QLD crews soldier on

• Bushfire victim's brutal messages to ScoMo scrawled on destroyed home

• 'Like an apocalypse': Thunderstorm and smoke haze plunge Sydney into darkness

Several homes and parts of the public school were reduced to rubble when a blaze tore through Bobin, north of Taree, two weeks ago. The fire burned more than 14,000 hectares.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says $48 million has been set aside for bushfire recovery as firefighters used more favourable weather conditions on Sunday to strengthen blaze containment lines.

Most NSW bushfires remain at the lowest alert level after rain fell on some fire grounds Friday night, while air quality is still hazardous in parts of the state.

Queensland's bushfire emergency declaration has been lifted from all parts of the state following two weeks of ferocious fire conditions and the loss of 20 homes.

With AAP

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.