Sam Farraway, Deputy Government Whip, Legislative Council, met with members of the Palmers Oakey Rural Fire Service over the weekend to present them with their citations.

Fire captain Nino Di Falco said while 14 volunteers received citations, the fire fighting effort was an enormous group effort, which included a lot of behind the scenes work.

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He said his 14 volunteers who received citations fought what is known as the Black Summer fires, which burned in the summer of 2019 and the beginning of 2020.

Captain Di Falco said the fire at Palmers Oakey began on December 4, and lasted until December 21, 2019. The fire front then crossed the river, burning out areas in Ilford.

"In Palmers Oakey we lost 14 square kilometres, mostly bush land, they lost three times that amount on the other side of the river," he said.

In addition to fighting fires at Palmers Oakey, the 14 fire crew also assisted at the Gosper Mountain Fire.

"It was a pretty horrendous time," Captain Di Falco said.

For their efforts the 14 volunteers received a Premier's Citation thanking them for their contribution, as well as a lapel badge and cap.

Captain Di Falco also thanked other volunteers who gave crews on the ground the support they needed to fight the fires.

"We had the same number of ladies and other supporters not on the front line. The ladies kept the food and morale up, we had guys who had joined the RFS but hadn't done the training manning the communications. It was a real joint effort.

"Those 21 days were anxious, terrifying times, the fires were approaching farmlands so it was pretty hectic," he said.

Mr Farraway, who met with the firefighters on the weekend, said it was great to present volunteers with their Premier Citation certificates and badges on behalf of the NSW Government.

"I had the opportunity to talk with Fire Captain Nino Di Falco (and others) about their experience in the fires,' he said, adding their selflessness and bravery did not go unnoticed.