Mr Abbott is a volunteer with the Davidson brigade of the NSW Rural Fire Service, which deployed to the NSW north coast last week before finding itself near Tenterfield.

Local MP Barnaby Joyce paid tribute to his former coalition party room colleague in parliament on Wednesday.

"What we are encountering in regional areas is the most exceptional drought in Australia's written history," Mr Joyce said.

"I would like to comment on a person who is currently fighting bushfires in these dire circumstances and that is the former prime minister of Australia, the Honourable Tony Abbott, who as we speak is at Drake fighting a bushfire in my electorate."

Australian Associated Press