Police are treating a horror discovery of human remains in New South Wales bushland as suspicious.

Firefighters unearthed the remains — believed to be from an adult — this morning after putting out a seemingly innocent blaze in the bush north of Taree.

A crew from the Rural Fire Service made the find at 6.10am on Yarratt Road, after they had put out a small fire in the Yarratt State Forest.

Officers from Manning-Great Lakes Police District are on the scene and have started an investigation.

They are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Rod Blackman said investigators were treating the death as suspicious.

They are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious in the last 12 to 24 hours in the Yarratt State Forest to contact police.

They also want to know if anyone in the community or visiting the area is aware of someone who is missing under usual circumstances.

A post mortem examination will be conducted to confirm an identity and cause of death.