Celebrity chef Miguel Maestre, accompanied by a director and a five-man film crew, visited Batemans Bay local firefighters and cooked a meal for ten staff who were first responders during summer 2019/2020.

The episode, which aired on May 27, was filmed two months beforehand, with those involved required to keep the experience a secret. No behind-the-scenes photos were allowed to be taken, and the Fire and Rescue department had to sign disclosure agreements.

READ MORE:

"It is nice to feel you are being thanked," Batemans Bay station commander Craig Mashman said.

Mr Mashman said the crew really did appreciate the recognition.

"We flew under the radar for lots of the work we did during the fires," he said.

He said it was a fantastic experience to be on television, and nice for someone to recognise the efforts of the crew during the fires, even though the crew did not seek out accolades for their actions.

"Thanks comes in many different forms," Mr Mashman said, "this is just one way of saying thanks."

The episode can be watched on 10Play.