Two Queensland firefighters have been hailed as heroes with calls to award hardworking fire crews with medals.
Ben and Josh, who are members of the Tallebudgera Valley Rural Fire Brigade, have been captured in a photo taking a 'breather' in the middle of a 14-hour long shift.
Firefighters battling blazes in Queensland have been praised as 'true heroes'. Source: Tallebudgera Valley Rural Fire Brigade
The firefighters are shown with a tired smile as they lean against one of 50-odd firefighting trucks at Binna Burra on Sunday. The photo was posted on the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Facebook page on Monday and has since attracted 5,400 comments of praise.
"You all deserve a medal, praying for your safety and that winds will calm," one social media user said.
Others dubbed the firefighters as "heroes" and "total legends".
"If it wasn't for your tireless efforts, many more homes would be lost, thank you girls and guys," another person posted.
Firefighting efforts in Peregian Springs on the Sunshine Coast. Source: AAP
'Nothing short of a miracle'
Queensland's acting premier said it's a miracle firefighters were able to save so many homes from a savage fire on the Sunshine Coast.
Queensland's ongoing bushfire crisis has destroyed 17 houses across the state and damaged 67 others.
Authorities said it's a miracle more homes weren't lost given the ferocity of the blazes, including one in the Peregian area of the Sunshine Coast on Monday night.
That fire continues to burn, but only one home was razed there with a second severely damaged.
Statewide, a total of 17 homes have been destroyed, and 67 others are damaged - four severely, 27 moderately, and 36 in a minor way.
Acting Premier Jackie Trad said firefighters who battled the blaze at Peregian had put in a herculean effort in the face of extreme danger.
"It was nothing short of a miracle when you consider the ember storm that was engulfing those communities and how unpredictable and quickly that fire emerged late yesterday," she told reporters.
Taskforce announced after reports of arson
With more than 80 fires still burning across Queensland, the danger is not over, with winds expected to ramp up again on Tuesday afternoon.
Police say arsonists lit some of those fires, and Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has announced a new taskforce "prevent, disrupt, and investigate" the fires.
Jackie Trad says it's a miracle firefighters were able to save so many homes on the Sunshine Coast. (AAP)
Richard Wardle from the Bureau of Meteorology said there would be some respite from the winds on Wednesday and Thursday.
But above-average temperatures are due to return later in the week, pushing the fire danger back to very high on Friday and Saturday.
And no significant rain is expected in fire zones over the next week or two.
Additional reporting: AAP
