FIREFIGHTERS run into a burning house while others are running out.

Yet they still have to fight for better pay.

About 40 firefighters rallied outside Cairns MP Desley Boyle's office yesterday in a bid to have their pay increased.

The United Firefighters Union's Far Northern organiser Gavin Holden said firefighters during the past 15 years had become versatile rescue workers capable of responding to range of emergencies including road accidents, floods, chemical spills and building collapses.

"We give up time with our families to do a risky job," Mr Holden said.

A work evaluation report lodged last year found that the workload, required qualifications and experience at fire stations around the state had increased by between 20 to 47 per cent in the past 10 years.

"They (the State Government) know this but they aren't willing to attach a monetary value to it," Mr Holden said.

"Queensland's firefighters have dropped to be the lowest paid in Australia."

The union and the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service will meet the Industrial Relations Commission next week to reach an agreement on pay rates.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the two parties had agreed in 2006 to the current rate firefighters were being paid but the findings of the work evaluation report were still being discussed.

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