A Canterbury University student who headed across the ditch on a summer job has become part of the country's bushfire efforts.

Forestry student Fergus Simpson took on a three-month forestry experience position in New South Wales, landing him in the thick of the fires.

He says he had no idea he was signing up for the worst fire season on record, working  24-hour firefighting shifts with no previous experience.

Simpson says he's never previously fought fires, but this is like a hell-scape or Armageddon.

"Even Aussie fire-fighters with up to 50-years experience have never seen anything like it before."

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