Several homes have been destroyed and more than 20 schools will be closed on Monday as two out-of-control bushfires threaten communities in Victoria's east.

Key points: Emergency warnings were in place for two fires in the state's east on Sunday night

Emergency warnings were in place for two fires in the state's east on Sunday night Authorities said a south-westerly wind change could push the bushfires north

Authorities said a south-westerly wind change could push the bushfires north Check all of the latest warnings on the VicEmergency website

At least five buildings, including homes, have been destroyed by separate bushfires at Bunyip and Yinnar North and evacuees have told the ABC they expect more houses will be lost.

Lightning strikes on Friday sparked several fires in the Bunyip State Park, which created a bushfire complex that has burnt more than 11,000 hectares and destroyed several homes.

Residents who evacuated from Tonimbuk, Garfield North and other communities bordering the park have told the ABC they saw "insane" flames sweep through the area.

Tonimbuk resident Karen said she realised her home had been destroyed when she saw photographs online.

"We've seen photos of what's left of our house and there's nothing … it's all gone," she told ABC Radio Melbourne.

Several homes have been destroyed by the Bunyip State Park bushfires. ( ABC News )

"I'm not the only one, there are other people who've lost stuff too so I'm just, I'm one of a lot of people who are going through this right now and we're just trying to be brave."

At least three buildings have been destroyed by the Bunyip bushfire complex, including two homes in the Garfield North area.

Victoria's Department of Education and Training said 23 schools would be closed on Monday across the region, including primary schools in Churchill, Drouin and Yinnar.

Longwarry North resident Kiery-Anne Clissold said she had tried her best to prepare her home before evacuating with her family of six on Friday night.

She said she had "no idea" if her home was still standing.

Sorry, this video has expired Bushfire evacuee Kiery-Anne Clissold said the flames were "hundreds of feet high"

The fire was moving south on Sunday and authorities closed the Princes Freeway between Nar Nar Goon and Drouin as flames reached the road.

On Sunday night, firefighters had managed to stop sparks from creating new fires next to the freeway.

Authorities said on Sunday night they hoped to reopen the major road connecting communities throughout Victoria's east as soon as possible.

Up to 850 people, 120 fire trucks and 20 aircraft were used to battle Bunyip blaze on Sunday.

Several evacuees from the Bunyip bushfire came to the Robin Hood Inn in Drouin West. ( ABC News: Damian McIver )

A south-westerly wind change which moved across the state on Sunday evening brought cooler temperatures, but raised fears it could push fires further north.

Authorities said the wind change could push the Bunyip bushfire complex towards Powelltown.

Earlier, Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp implored people in the path of the fires to stay safe and to heed the warnings.

Sorry, this video has expired Intense fires burn through eastern Victoria

"It's a dangerous time, putting it bluntly, not just for communities but for firefighters," he said.

"[The] fire and emergency services are doing everything we can in relation to this particular fire under very trying circumstances.

"This is an active fire. It is moving and there is every likelihood there will be more fire losses."

See all of the communities across Victoria included in the latest warnings on the VicEmergency website.

'People cannot expect a fire truck at every house'

Mr Crisp conceded there were some "very difficult circumstances on the ground" as helicopter images sent from the scene showed houses fully engulfed in flames with no fire trucks nearby.

"I want to be really, really clear that people cannot expect a fire truck at every house," he said.

"There's just not enough to go around.

"It gets to a point where we're not prepared to put our firefighters in danger."

Smoke rises in the sky after water bombing of fires in Maryknoll. ( Supplied: Lisa Willems )

Gippsland homes 'completely enveloped' in fire zone

Further east, firefighters are still battling to bring a 1,500-hectare blaze at Yinnar South near Morwell under control, after it destroyed at least two buildings.

People at Budgeree, Jeeralang, Jumbuk and Yinnar were being urged to leave and a relief centre had been set up at Kernot Hall in Morwell.

Yinnar South resident Bernard Marsh, who had evacuated to Morwell, said he was "pretty confident" his house was either badly burnt or destroyed.

Bernard Marsh followed the bushfire's progress from the Morwell relief centre. ( ABC News: Nicole Asher )

"My house has been completely enveloped in what they call the fire area," he said.

"It's not good."

Jan Davidson, who was at a Warragul food relief centre, said people who had arrived from bushfire-affected communities were "shell-shocked".

"A lady came in with a cat, she had just lost her house and she just had a cat, and all she wanted to do was sit there," Ms Davidson told ABC Radio Melbourne.

She said some of the evacuees had turned down community offers of a spare bed, because they just wanted to "be alone" and have their own space.

"But the community support is just amazing … it just blows your mind, how wonderful they are," she said.

An emergency warning which was in place for a fire burning at Dargo, in the state's north-east had been downgraded to a watch and act by Sunday night.

Another fire continues to burn at Licola in the Alpine National Park where watch and act messages were current at 10:30pm.

A house goes up in flames in the Bunyip fire, east of Melbourne. ( ABC News )

The Bureau of Meteorology's Dean Narramore said the Licola fire looked "very, very dangerous" on satellite images.

"It's actually so big it's producing its own lightning," he said.

A house destroyed by fire in eastern Victoria. ( ABC News )

Mr Crisp said the battle to fight the fires would likely continue for a number of days.

"We've got a tough day today but it doesn't finish today," he said.

"The change is quite shallow and we'll still see warmer temperatures … again tomorrow.

"In fact we've probably got no relief until Wednesday when there's some rain that's forecast. But we've got to get through today."