Man dies in bushfire near Kempsey, NSW Mid North Coast

Police were called to a Temagog property, 30km west of Kempsey, after concerns were raised for a missing 56-year-old man.

The officers found the body of a man about 100 metres from a destroyed bulldozer about 10.15pm on October 16.

Mid North Coast Police District superintendent Shane Cribb said it was an "absolutely tragic incident".

"We do believe he was perhaps putting in some lines to try and prevent the fire," he said.

Superintendent Cribb said police were in contact with the man's family who were "devastated".

Investigations are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Kempsey Shire Mayor Leo Hauville said the man's death was a tragedy.

He said the fires were a major problem in the shire.

"Today, we will do our best to keep going with our business of council, but in the back of all of our minds will be the hard work and distress of what's going on," he said.

"[The RFS] are doing an amazing job and they are coping with horrendous wind conditions that are making it very difficult to control the fires. I salute all those people doing that."

An out-of-control fire in the Kempsey Shire has burnt nearly 11,000 hectares with hot and windy conditions challenging firefighting efforts.

An evacuation centre has been set up at the Kempsey Showground and students from two local schools, Bellbrook Public School and Willawarrin Public School, have been kept home on October 17 due to the elevated fire risk.

IN OTHER NEWS:

There are 32 fires burning out of control across NSW as of 8am on October 17, mostly in the state's north-east and along the coast.