FIREFIGHTER Matt McKean estimates he's worked more than 200 hours of overtime this fire season.
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He'll be working again Christmas Day - alongside a number of crews who have sacrificed their families for the fire grounds.
There's 15 fires burning around Tamworth, just three are contained.
While the rest of us break bread with our families, selfless volunteers give up their time to protect total strangers, Tamworth Rural Fire Service Superintendent Allyn Purkiss said.
"There's such a wide group of people who have been displaced and threatened by fire, we all feel for them that's for sure," he said.
"We've had crews out there for the last three months fighting fires who want to get back to their families and have a break themselves.
"These volunteers are an amazing bunch there's no doubt about that, regardless of if it's Christmas or not they do everything they can to protect lives and property."
Of the 15 fires around town, 12 are in the process of being controlled.
The Pearson's Trail blaze at Dungowan is giving firefighters the most grief.
To the south-east of the fire, high-value timber in the State Forest is under threat.
A lot of businesses in the area rely on that timber, some who export it to China.
On the north-western side of the fire between Ogenvil Road and Duncan's Creek Road, multiple properties will come under threat as it continues to move down the hill.
Saving those homes is a priority for volunteers, Mr Purkiss said, especially given the hundreds of homes that have been lost across the state this bushfire season.
It's still frightening, it's still threatening for those people.
- Allyn Purkiss
"It's not rushing down at them, but there are multiple properties that will come under threat at some point," he said. "It's still frightening, it's still threatening for those people.
"We've got crews up there today and we'll have them over the break to protect them as best we can." Volunteer firefighters have done enough to earn a spot on Santa's Nice List for the next decade.
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All they ask for this year is a good bucket of rain, Mr Purkiss said.
"If Santa is listening, all we want is come rain," he said.
"If he can do that we don't need pressies, just rain."
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
