Vacant student accommodation at a university on the New South Wales Mid North Coast is providing much-needed housing for firefighters brought in to fight bushfires in the area.

Key points: With exams over, Charles Sturt University accommodation provides the perfect base for firefighters at Port Macquarie

With exams over, Charles Sturt University accommodation provides the perfect base for firefighters at Port Macquarie Fire authorities predict the firefighters, many from out of town, will be needed for weeks and possibly months to come

Fire authorities predict the firefighters, many from out of town, will be needed for weeks and possibly months to come A local supermarket and residents have donated food, and two Lions clubs have done the cooking to feed the firefighters

A "significant campaign" of bushfires burning across the Mid North Coast has had fire authorities planning for the weeks, and potentially months, to come.

One key challenge is accommodation. Out-of-area firefighters are needed to assist in the ongoing bushfire emergency but, as tourist season ramps up, finding somewhere for them to stay is crucial.

That's where Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Port Macquarie campus comes in, providing an unlikely home away from home for some of them.

"Obviously, this is a fairly significant campaign of fires that we have burning across the mid coast," Rural Fire Service district spokesman Stuart Robb said.

"We are concerned that if we continue to have the activity we're having over the coming weeks leading up to the Christmas period, we need to be able to house our volunteer firefighters and firefighters from interstate, and internationally as they come into the district to support the local crews.

"Given Port Macquarie is a tourist destination over the Christmas period, accommodation in the hotels and motels becomes a premium as we go into December and we wanted to ensure that we had that ability to house fire crews."

The student accommodation at CSU would normally be close to empty at this time of year, as exams have finished, but instead it's a hive of activity with dozens of fire trucks parked there overnight.

Fire crews may be needed into 2020

Firefighters from across Australia and New Zealand are among those staying on campus, and there is still plenty for them to do.

"There's a significant amount of work to do. It's not just the initial firefight," Mr Robb said.

"Once that's completed there's a lot of restoration work that needs to be done in the make-good phase of the firefighting activity. Crews will be required for the foreseeable few weeks."

Notes thanking the out-of-area firefighters adorn walls in a CSU common area. ( ABC News: Kerrin Thomas )

Kate Wood-Foye from CSU is one of those who've made it possible for the firefighters to stay in the student accommodation.

"We've had word to say they will be with us through potentially until the end of January and early February, keeping the community safe," she said.

"We have supported them to date and they've basically said: 'We'd love to stay on with you, we love staying here'.

"We've come to an arrangement with them and we're getting it all organised so they can stay on with us at a special emergency services rate."

More than 700 firefighters have already stayed in the accommodation since the university offered it up earlier this month.

Home away from home

Meredith Gibson and Amanda Quinn from CSU have been helping the firefighters feel at home. ( ABC News: Kerrin Thomas )

Meredith Gibson and Amanda Quinn are handling the logistics of housing the firefighters.

"The feedback from the firies is that it's like a home away from home," Ms Gibson said.

Ms Quinn said friendships were being formed in the downtime before crews headed out each morning.

"People identifying that they came from the same town, they're the lovely stories we see happening," she said.

"One of the things that we notice is when they're leaving, it's like they consider us family so it's big hugs all round."

Firefighters have welcomed the comfort of staying at CSU in Port Macquarie. ( ABC News: Kerrin Thomas )

Bruce Jewell from the Drouin West Fire Brigade, in Victoria's West Gippsland, said the accommodation was among the best he had stayed in while fighting fires.

"The accommodation and the meals are just sensational, and it really helps the morale of the firefighters," he said.

"We're out on the fireground for up to 12 to 14 hours, and to come home to a comfortable bed, a hot meal, a dinner and breakfast cooked by these wonderful, fantastic people, it just helps the morale and the wellbeing of the firefighters, it really does.

"Often, we as firefighters get to sleep in tents, little camp beds, which is OK but this is just that little bit nicer, and it just helps the firefighters to relax."

Mr Robb said good rest was incredibly important for those fighting the fires.

"They're working very hard on the firegrounds, and a good night's sleep is very important for them if they're going out day after day," the district spokesman said.

"This is excellent accommodation for them. They're self-contained, single suites with an ensuite and breakout areas and perfect for getting a good night's sleep."

Community pitches in

Volunteers from local Lions Clubs, including Philip Smith, have been cooking breakfast for the firefighters. ( ABC News: Kerrin Thomas )

Feeding the firefighters has been a community effort: a local supermarket and residents have donated food and two Lions Clubs have done the cooking.

"Between the two clubs, Lake Cathie-Bonny Hills and Tacking Point, we've organised at least six people to come in each morning to prepare bacon, eggs, sausages, tomatoes and baked beans," Lions member Philip Smith said.

Volunteers Frank Deguara, Angelo Mifsud and Derek Gillespie from Lions Clubs cooking breakfast for firefighters. ( ABC News: Kerrin Thomas )

"We just cook it, we've got the easy job and these guys are very grateful to get a hot meal.

"They're pretty well looked after, not that you can do enough for them."