Putting out fires is all in day's work for senior firefighters Mick Cunningham and Ross Cutugno.

Which is why Mr Cutugno's next door neighbours can count themselves lucky today as they survey the damage to their home caused by a fire last night.

If not for Mr Cunningham and Mr Cutugno, who were both enjoying a family barbecue at Cutogno's home in Woolloongabba when they noticed the house next door was alight , this morning the neighbour's house would be burnt to the ground.

As it is, it's suffered serious damage, but much can still be saved.

According to Cunningham and Cutugno, who both work at Annerley Fire Station, the first they knew of the fire next door was when they heard a noise they often hear in their work -- the sound of glass breaking.

"We were cooking marshmellows on the brazier with the kids when we heard the noise. Ross went to investigate and when he came back he said 'quick, call the firebrigade the house next door is on fire,' so my wife rang the fire brigade," Mr Cunningham said.

"We grabbed the hose and threw some water at it ... I went round to the front and kicked the front door in and yelled out to see if anyone was in there."

The occupants of the house were not home at the time of the blaze.

"By that stage the fire had started to get a hold and we just made sure we threw water on the neighbouring house and sprayed it until the firefighters got there," Mr Cunningham said.

Even though the fire disrupted their quiet evening Mr Cunningham said that it was a great opportunity for his and Mr Cutugno's family to see what they do every day at work.

"The kids were able to just sit back and see what their fathers do for a job. All the fire trucks arrived and it was quite and eventful night for the kids," he said.

This is not the first time that Mr Cutugno has been called upon to take his work into his personal life with a neighbouring house also burning down during the mid 1990s and him lending his assistance during that blaze.

Fighting the fire from the other side of the fence was a new experience for Mr Cunningham who said that he now has more appreciation for what people go through waiting for the fire brigade.

"I appreciate now being able to hear the sirens coming... just throwing the limited amount of water we could get out of the hose onto the house, 5 or 6 minutes of throwing water around and the heat it made me appreciate fighting a fire in the real world," he said.

"At least I've got the gear to protect me...it was an interesting event, not something you expect when going to a barbecue."