Fire smokes out major dope operation

A 68-year-old man with an alleged $600,000 cannabis stash has been financially burnt by a bushfire that uncovered an underground shipping container hiding 118 plants.

Emergency services went to a Kremnos property in northern NSW on Monday afternoon after a house was destroyed by a large bushfire, only to find a shipping container buried at the rear of the property.

"Upon entering the container, officers found 118 cannabis plants with an estimated potential street value of $590,000," police said.

A quantity of cannabis leaf was also found.

Police charged the man with several offences including enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis for commercial purpose.

He was given conditional bail and is due before Grafton Local Court in mid-September.