Queensland firefighters remain on the job throughout the holiday season, but that doesn’t mean they’re missing out on Christmas Day lunch.

December 25, 2019

With more than 40 bushfires burning across Queensland, it’s business as usual on Christmas Day for firefighters across the state.

But that doesn’t mean they’ll miss out on the festivities.

Firefighters at the Woodridge station will lead a convoy of emergency vehicles and workers on 15km “Santa Run” through the suburbs of Logan, south of Brisbane.

They’ll be joined by members of the Rural Fire Service, police and emergency workers as the parade of vehicles spreads “some Christmas joy”.

“We’ll have the lights and sirens on with Jingle Bells playing so they know we’re coming,” organiser and fireman Scott Edwards told AAP.

The convoy will stop off at a community lunch before heading to Logan Hospital to help Father Christmas hand out gifts in the children’s ward.

“All we’ve been seeing on the news is terrible things happening with all the fires, so this is a little something to give back to the community,” Mr Edwards said.

“It’s about the Christmas Spirit and saying g’day – if we make just one kid smile we’ll have done our job.”

Hundreds of career firefighters on duty across Queensland are joined by Rural Fire Service volunteers, many of whom continue to fight bushfires burning from northern Queensland to the NSW border.

In Brisbane, Fire and Rescue Service firefighter Sam Carrigg says his team at the Roma Street station plan to share a traditional Christmas lunch, as long as they’re not called out to an emergency.

“There’s no rest for the wicked, as they say, but hopefully we get time,” he said with a laugh.

“With the 12 of us on shift, it’s like a big extended family, like having all your cousins around.”

Ham and turkey with all the trimmings, plus Mr Carrigg’s brother’s special rum balls, are on the menu.

“We should have a nice waft through the station,” he joked.

“But we can’t eat too much just in case we get called out.”

Despite being a city station, Mr Carrigg says his team has also had a busy season fighting bushfires.

“All of Queensland has been flat biscuit,” he said.

Mr Carrigg tipped his hat to the rural firefighters across Australia.

“We’re paid to do our job but most of the rural teams volunteer to protect their communities,” he said.

“It’s just outstanding what they do.”