BILLIONAIRE RICHARD BRANSON OFFERS MAKEPEACE ISLAND AS REFUGE FOR NOOSA NORTH SHORE FIRE VICTIMS

In the middle of watching his Noosa North Shore home burn to the ground at the weekend, Mike Hancock received a hugely generous offer from an English knight.

Mr Hancock was one of 10 residents who lost their home in the devastating blaze, and has been invited to stay on Sir Richard Branson's Makepeace Island off Noosa.

Three homes were destroyed in the blaze on Saturday afternoon and two were structurally damaged, in a bad few days for fires in the region.

Speaking from the luxury, private heart-shaped island, Mr Hancock told the ABC the offer and generosity was overwhelming.

"In the middle of the fire [Makepeace manager] Jason Styles came over and said we could come stay at the island," he said.

The offer came via Mr Styles from Virgin Australia co-founder Brett Godfrey, who owns Makepeace Island with Sir Richard.

SURREAL AND SHELL-SHOCKED

David Wright, a North Shore home owner whose home was narrowly saved from the blaze, was also staying on the island with wife Kym and their 29-year-old autistic son, Brody.

"It's surreal. One night we are in the middle of a fire from the holocaust, trying to start fire pumps, and the next night we are in a six star resort," he said.

Mr Wright said sleeping in Sir Richard's bed "feels pretty much the same as my bed".

"But it's a beautiful unit and we appreciate being here. It is a bit of a sanctuary," he said.

"I went home this morning and it was bloody horrible. The glass, the smell, it's just awful."

The 10 residents are being given the full island treatment, with meals also provided.

But Mr Wright said they were all simply shell-shocked.

"It was such a nice gesture, but there have been a lot of nice gestures from people," he said.

"It just happens one of them owns a resort."

BILLIONAIRE A FRIENDLY NEIGHBOUR

The North Shore residents have met their billionaire neighbour over the years.

Mr Wright has a photo of Sir Richard with Brody, and said the billionaire was a "good neighbour".

"Richard comes by and says 'Good day'," Mr Wright said.

"I don't know many billionaires, I don't know many millionaires, but he seems to be a nice one.

"His staff speak very highly of him too."

Mr Wright said being able to stay on the island helped the homeowners to "sit around together and almost debrief".

He was also trying to keep life as normal as possible for Brody, who was dependent on routine.

Even though Mr Wright's home was narrowly saved, it would be some time before he could move back in because of fire damage and structural concerns.

Sir Richard bought the island in 2001 as his Australian home away from home, and is a regular visitor.

The island was used exclusively as a getaway for Virgin staff and guests until he opened it to the public in 2011 as a private resort, which now attracts a hefty price tag of $5,500 a night for four people.

But no thought was given to money or publicity when the offer came to open the island to the owners of the homes destroyed or damaged in Saturday's fire.

A Makepeace spokeswoman also declined requests to comment, saying neither Sir Richard or Mr Godfrey were looking for publicity out of their offer.