Man dies in Moparrabah fire on NSW Mid North Coast

“Unfortunately, it does appear he was trying to protect his home,” he said.

“It does illustrate the danger of fire in this country and anyone who does stay to protect their home needs to understand the risks associated.”

At least three properties have also been at least partly destroyed by the Moparrabah fire, the RFS said.

Shepherd said it would take some time to assess the total damage.

“The fire is so large, it’s going to take some time to do that assessment, and not just property but sheds, fencing and livestock,” he said.

The NSW RFS issued an emergency alert for the Moparrabah fire at 3pm on Monday, telling residents near Willi Willi and Warbro Brook it was too late to leave.

The fire was downgraded to watch and act in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

An evacuation centre for residents has been set up at the Kempsey Showground in West Kempsey.

Firefighters are expecting conditions on Tuesday to ease, but NSW RFS spokeswoman Angela Burford warned temperatures were likely to rise later into the week.

“Saturday there is a chance we’ll see a return to some extreme fire danger, predominantly in north-eastern NSW,” she said.

As of 8am Tuesday, there are 69 fires burning around the state with 32 not yet contained.

There is a strong wind warning in place for Sydney Enclosed Waters, Byron Coast, Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast for Tuesday.

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There is also a hazardous surf warning in place for the Byron Coast, Coffs Coast, Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast and Illawarra Coast.

“People should consider staying out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas,” the NSW Police Force Marine Area Command has advised.

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