In a joint submission to the NSW bushfire inquiry, Albury MP Justin Clancy and Benambra MP Bill Tilley have banded together to point out what went wrong.

"Along the border we are dealing with fires that acknowledge no border. Embers can travel many kilometres beyond the firefront and, as with the actual fires themselves, can cross the Murray River and move interstate," they said.

"Even though our region's firefighters (RFS and CFA) might be working on both sides of the border, it remains the situation that they rely on different radio settings.

"They cannot all receive the same communications at the same time in this region.

"This leaves the crews exposed to unnecessary additional risks.

"Is it not time that they have the equipment both to talk to crews from neighbouring states, and to know where the various teams are or are heading?"

One of the recommendations was to create a new system where firefighters can not only communicate with their colleagues across the border, but information issued by NSW and Victoria also includes warnings about nearby fires in the other state.

Both states had mobile apps that showed the fire stop at the state border, when this was far from true.

Fuel loads were the major issue raised by constituents and the MPs said that both states had insufficient means of controlling roadside vegetation.

"We need more science-based information about the real value of preventative burning programs: how much, how often, how to manage air quality during the year, and so on," they said.

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The declaration of a disaster in some council areas was a battle, as they needed the declaration to access emergency government funding to help their response.

Mr Clancy and Mr Tilley want the system they described as "a blunt instrument" to change.

"The current system of disaster declarations, relying on local government area boundaries, is outdated and far too slow to respond to need," they said.

"In our experience this adds terribly to the mental anguish following losses from natural events such as fire, flood, drought or storm.

"The experience in these fires was that some shires were adversely affected by smoke and fire threat, resulting in massive downturns for small businesses and other businesses reliant on tourism - it took several weeks for government assistance to recognise that impact."

Inquiry submissions can be made at www.nsw.gov.au/improving-nsw until April 17.