Mr Merlino spoke to The Border Mail on Thursday in an attempt to allay rising concerns of volunteers about a deal struck between the Labor Government and the United Firefighters Union, which has led to the CFA board being sacked and Mr Merlino's predecessor, Jane Garrett, quitting.

"I'm getting around talking to as many communities as I can," Mr Merlino said.

"I was in Mildura yesterday, Bendigo today and am heading to Lancefield tonight.

"I will be travelling around the state and certainly getting to the North East.

"I won't take direction from the opposition who can I say have behaved disgracefully over the last period.

"The mis-information, led by the opposition, is simply disgraceful."

Euroa MLA Steph Ryan will take part in the rally from Wangaratta to Mansfield via Benalla on Saturday issued an invitation to Premier Daniel Andrews to attend the rally and explain to volunteers why the enterprise barganing agreement agreed to by his government wouldn't impact on them.

Mr Merlino said the clause relating to the dispatch of seven paid firefighters to an incident before firefighting can begin had been totally over-stated as a concern.

"Three per cent of our brigades are integrated stations," he said.

"We've got 1200 volunteer brigades who won't be impacted by that particular clause about dispatching from integrated stations.

"I absolutely understand and acknowledge the concerns being raised by volunteers.

"My message to them is this agreement will not impact on the vital work they do.

"Volunteer fire-fighters are the heart and soul of country communities.

"There are specific clauses in the agreement which protect the role of volunteers."

Mr Merlino said he would announce "shortly" the first five members of the replacement CFA board with a further four volunteer representatives to be announced at a later date.

Wodonga West CFA captain Ross Coyle was a member of the former board.

Mr Merlino also described pending involvement in the dispute by the federal government and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as opportunistic.

"We are in a federal campaign and Malcolm Turnbull has used this issue for political gain with a pretty empty gesture," Mr Merlino said.

"Who would trust Malcolm Turnbull with amending the the Fair Work Act?

"It was a political stunt."

Ovens Valley MLA Tim McCurdy will also be joining the rally on Saturday.

"I believe this attack on CFA volunteers is just the beginning of a war on volunteers being waged by Daniel Andrews," he said.

"Other volunteer organisations could be next to be targeted by him."