AT ABOUT eight years old, Paul Maher rode on horseback to fight his first fire.

Today at 67 years old, he was given his first award for his lifetime of service at the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Police Australia Day Award Ceremony.

Now the first officer of the Wildash Fire Brigade, Mr Maher said it had always been a part of life to pitch in and help out when there was smoke on the horizon.

"It is an honour and you accept it on behalf of the brigade because everybody's got a role," he said.

Mr Maher was awarded the Australia Day Medallion yesterday alongside about six other QFES personnel.

He said firefighters put their lives on the line when they drive towards the flames.

The biggest fire he fought was in 1991, when a fire was started by the train line.

"The train went up the line and it was dropping hot ash, soot, and there was a lot of country burnt in that fire," he said.

Mr Maher also became a hero when he was off-duty about ten years ago, when he stepped in to save the life of five-year-old Chevon Parker after her dad's truck rolled and burst into flames.

He was driving down the highway when he saw the burned and bleeding little girl and swept her into his arms for safety, at the same time making a best friend for life.

Mr Maher's wife and two daughters were in the 200-strong crowd for the ceremony yesterday.

He said a love of the bush and country life motivated him to keep fighting fires.

"It's just an Australian part of life," he said.

"It's a part of your job when you're living in the bush, you just protect what you can and get on with life."