For rural firefighters on their way home through Bungendore after a long shift, nothing beats a cold drink and a lolly snake

But the big hand-written sign set up next to it has made it a beacon of comfort and hope for exhausted fire crews making their way to and from long shifts fighting the infernos that have been raging in the region for several weeks.

"Cold drinks for firies - stay safe," it reads.

It was set up by local residents Scott and Claire Hooper and their daughter Dannielle, who have been watching the fire trucks - and not much else - go past since the fires began.

Mr Hooper, a bricklayer whose brother is fighting fires down on the coast, decided to put a fridge filled by the road outside the family home and fill it with cold drinks, to give the firies something to keep them going.

He filled it with a couple of cases of drinks three weeks ago, and hasn't had to restock since.

Locals and passers-by have been keeping it full of sports drinks, water, lollies, snacks and icy-poles ever since.

And firies have been leaving their own hand-written messages of thanks on the fridge - using the handy markers the Hoopers have attached to the door.

The Hoopers even had to bring out an extra esky just for water, although it's really the sugar the fire crews are after.

"It's the ginger beer and sugary things they've been needing," Mr Hooper,

"It's a comfort thing, the sugar, especially things like lolly snakes."

Mrs Hooper said it was usually the crews who were returning for a shift swap who needed it the most; those headed towards fires usually had plenty of water and adrenaline already.

The season has put summer on hold for many in the area, as Bungendore has long been a stop-off for Canberrans en route to Braidwood, and then onto the South Coast.

But the traditional pilgrimage has halted while the fires rage.

The Hoopers were used to finding it almost impossible to back their car out of the driveway on Bungendore's main drag.

But since November, the traffic has dwindled.

The fridge has been the Hoopers' way of saying thank you - and a way of letting others do the same.