Karl Stefanovic slams ‘arrogant’ Prime Minister Scott Morrison

He’s only been at Today for two days, but Karl Stefanovic has already had two digs at Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s bushfire response.

Today host Karl Stefanovic has had his second spray at the Prime Minister in as many days, this morning calling him “arrogant” after the New South Wales fire chief said he wasn’t notified about a plan to deploy up to 3000 defence personnel in bushfire zones.

In an interview with NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, Stefanovic asked if he had been made aware by the PM’s office that thousands of troops were to be added to the fire fighting effort.

“Unfortunately not,” Mr Fitzsimmons replied.

“It was disappointing and some surprise to hear about these things through public announcements.”

RELATED: Follow our live coverage of the bushfires in NSW and Victoria

Mr Fitzsimmons said he had been forced to spend time “seeking clarity from our Commonwealth liaison personnel They weren’t across the details either.”

He said the Prime Minister’s Office had since apologised to him.

Stefanovic, who has only been back in the Today chair for two days, let rip at Scott Morrison.

“I can’t fathom how you were not made aware of that decision. The Prime Minister of this country doesn’t let the man who is running this bushfire emergency know that he is putting 3000 people on the ground?

“Didn’t tell you, didn’t call you. Was arrogant enough to go to air without it.”

Karl Stefanovic is not impressed with the PM's latest conduct towards the bushfire crisis

“All I can say I wasn’t aware of it. I found out about it via the media reports. We then spent a fair bit of time with the military liaison trying to understand the details were,” Mr Fitzsimmons said.

“I can’t fathom how the Prime Minister has not let you know about this announcement,” Stefanovic said.

“It is beyond, it is beyond. That man deserves better.”

Nevertheless, Mr Fitzsimmons said he welcomed the extra resources but it was the manner in which they were announced that was irksome.

“We have people assigned at the NSW level particularly looking at utilising those crews to help with the recovery and the support operations to people who have been heavily impacted. “It will be a valuable thing. It will help our communities.

“The [PM’s Office] apologised that in hindsight they could have done better with communicating that.”

Emergency Management Victoria Commissioner Andrew Crisp also confirmed he had received no official notification before the announcement.

“I picked up something informally that we thought something was going to happen around reservists,” he told the Nine Network on Sunday, adding he was welcoming of the news.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was told of the prime minister’s announcement before it was made.

A spokesman for Mr Morrison said state leaders were informed ahead of the commitment being made public.

FACE OF THE FIRES

Mr Fitzsimmons has become a familiar face in the last few months communicating and directing the fire effort in NSW.

Shane Fitzsimmons revealed his disappointment on The Today Show this morning

The 50-year-old has been a constant presence on television screens and on the ground in the NSW disaster zones for weeks, even months on end.

On Tuesday this week he choked back tears during an emotional press conference as he confirmed the wife of newlywed volunteer fireman Samuel McPaul, who died after a “fire tornado” flipped his fire truck on December 30, was due to give birth to the couple’s first child in May.