Andrew Michael, 94, says the water view from his second storey Peregian Beach unit is one of his only pleasures in life.

Key points: Andrew Michael was one of several residents evacuated from the Peregian area on Monday night

Andrew Michael was one of several residents evacuated from the Peregian area on Monday night The fire dramatically escalated, catching residents and police by surprise

The fire dramatically escalated, catching residents and police by surprise Only one home was lost in the blaze

But on Monday night, the sparkling blue was obscured by the hellish red of a fire storm, as embers rained down and police rushed through the streets frantically knocking on doors for people to evacuate.

Walking-stick in hand, the Greek grandfather was guided down the stairs by officers.

"Everything was so quick. The police turned up. 'We have to get out' he said. 'The house behind you is burning'," Mr Michael said.

"They [have] done a very good job. They helped me downstairs and then they passed me to the neighbours.

"I see the sparks raining … and then I thought it was something serious."

Andrew Michael, 94, was helped down the stairs by police when he was rescued from his home. ( ABC News: Amy Sheehan )

Mr Michael's rescue can be seen in a dramatic video of the street's evacuation, released by the Queensland Police Service.

Darryl "Diesel" Campbell was one of the officers involved, telling ABC News yesterday he had never seen a fire like it before.

"When people say a firestorm, I now know what they're talking about, because it hit hard and there was a wall of fire in front of me and it was just up and over my head and started burning properties behind me," he said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 3 minutes 8 seconds 3 m 8 s Resident Harry Bryant's video of the police evacuation from his burning street.

An 'absolute firestorm'

Mr Michael's neighbour, Damian Meadows, was the one who alerted police that the elderly man needed assistance.

"Two motorcycle policemen were banging on my front door demanding that we leave and I notified them that the 94-year-old gentlemen was upstairs, and that became their number one issue," he said.

"He didn't want to leave."

The bushfire caught residents by surprise when it sparked on Monday afternoon. ( Supplied: Daniel Mcardle )

Mr Meadows described the scenes as an "absolute firestorm".

"A 30 foot wall of fire on the road out here and just chaos, just panic, a convoy of cars heading north and fire trucks everywhere," Mr Meadows said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 32 seconds 32 s Embers were fanned by strong winds, creating a hellish scene on the Sunshine Coast.

"The conditions were terrible that day. The westerly wind, no humidity, just a firestorm".

His house is still standing, but the front guttering was alight and the downpipes have all melted.

Mr Meadows described the efforts of police and firefighters as "awesome", as they also helped his teenage daughter, Chelsea, to safety.

Meanwhile, Mr Michael has been staying with friends for a couple of days, but is now back in the Peregian Beach community, which he described as his family.

Speaking from the beloved unit he's called home for 37 years, he seemed to have taken the fire in his stride.

"I've seen a lot of fires in my life around here," he said.

"I knew the house would be all right, because it's very solid brick and it's got an asbestos roof."