Jed Duffy left his career in Sydney a year ago, wanting to escape the rat race.

The former psychotherapist is now learning about a different type of behaviour after almost losing everything to fire last week.

"This group of amazing people kind of stuck around, and when the fire came through they helped guide it around the property, kept everything safe, and I've got somewhere to live as a result," he said.

Few in the group have formal firefighting training, but they share a common goal — protecting their neighbours and towns from one of the worst bushfire seasons in Australian history.

With firefighters stretched to the limit tackling blazes that have now burnt through 2.7 million hectares across the state, locals — calling themselves all manner of names — are gearing up to fight the fires themselves.

"We've got the Aldi Strike Force — their motto is 'half the price for twice the value'," Wollombi resident Fiona Migan said.

"We've called ourselves, down the west end here, the Renegade Brigade.

"And then Black Ops Mosquitos is just the general term for everyone."

Darren Philip checks his firefighting kit which includes a 1,000-litre water tank on a trailer. ( ABC News: Matthew Doran )

These "black ops" brigades are quick to emphasise they are not claiming neglect from weary NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) crews.

They are simply trying to fill the gaps in defences, taking advantage of their ability to quickly deploy to areas large fire trucks would struggle to reach.

That was what happened when flames came near Mr Duffy's property at Paynes Crossing, west of Cessnock.

The RFS had been to visit him and his neighbours a few days before the fire, but firefighters had to pull out as they had no radio signal.

The situation was considered too risky.

"It was basically a group of incredible neighbours and community that banded together to help defend these homes that were in a good position to be defendable, that were really well prepped," Mr Duffy said.

"A crew of people I hardly know from a bar of soap … they all just rocked up and started to make sure we had the property prepped."

Darren Philip and Fiona Migan's dog Pippin is the mascot for the "Renegade Brigade". ( ABC News: Matthew Doran )

Ms Migan's husband Darren Philip has seen this community spirit before.

In 1994, fires tore through this region, prompting locals to gear up and tackle the blazes themselves.

His kit is pretty impressive: a 1,000-litre water tank sitting on a trailer hitched to the back of his four-wheel drive, along with a water pump, hoses, rakes, shovels, chainsaws — everything you could need to attack a fire flaring up.

"The bush telegraph, word of mouth, gets around and we know where everyone is and whose place is doing what, and make sure everyone's safe," Mr Philip said.