FIREFIGHTERS continue to battle blazes across Victoria, the main ones in the Grampians, Gippsland and the Mallee.

The Grampians tourist town of Halls Gap, which was evacuated yesterday, although some residents chose to stay and defend their homes.

Authorities said the threat had ease for now and resident should be able to return home later today.

A woman's body was found at her Roses Gap property on Friday morning, although authorities say she died as a result of a medical issue.

The Grampians fire complex was so intense on Friday it created a 12-kilometre-wide convection column, generating its own weather and lightning strikes and sparking smaller spot fires.

Lightning strikes started about 25 fires in East Gippsland, which are forecast to form an inferno of half a million hectares that will take a huge effort to control.

About 500 people have been at relief centres at Horsham, Stawell and Ararat in recent days.

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>> FIRE WATCH: LATEST WARNINGS AND ADVICE

>> FULL WRAP OF FIRES BURNING ACROSS THE STATE

>> GIPPSLAND FIRES TAKE TOLL ON FIREFIGHTERS

>> ARSON FEARS OVER HUME HIGHWAY FIRES

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6.40PM: THE fire emergency facing Victorian's Grampians region is over and the tourist village of Halls Gap has escaped unscathed.

The main threat had passed by Saturday afternoon and an emergency warning for Halls Gap and Grampians Junction was downgraded to a watch and act alert.

The blaze is not yet under control.

Authorities say fire came within 2kms of Halls Gap but an earlier-than-expected wind change saved the village.

Residents were being allowed back on Saturday afternoon.

6.13PM: VOLUNTEER firefighter Daryl Maslen posted this video on Facebook.

Maslen said: "So we were deployed all over the Grampians providing asset protection , when we get a call saying get back to the highway the fire has jumped the road with the wind change and we need to provide asset protection for a little caravan type park , and on the way there , this is what strike team 0864 had to go through to get there."

6.01PM: LATEST status of Victoria's bushfires, according to AAP

* More than 100,000ha burnt

* Four homes lost

* One death, a Roses Gap woman, from a medical issue

* Worst is over but firefighting effort to continue in some places for days

* 34 main fires still burning

* Worst fire conditions since Black Saturday 2009

* Four-day heatwave ended Friday

* Emergency relief grants up to $1250 for each family affected by fires; up to $31,000 for those who have lost their homes

MAJOR FIRES:

GRAMPIANS

* More than 51,000ha

* Halls Gap spared after tourist village and nearby towns evacuated on Friday

* One death

* Four homes lost; other property damage

* Sheds and many kilometres of fencing damaged or destroyed

* 7500 sheep killed or injured

* 500 people at three relief centres in past few days

MALLEE

* Cluster of fires burning for days

* More than 60,000ha burnt

GIPPSLAND

* More than 30 fires in remote bushland

* Large cluster of fires north of Club Terrace, at least 3000ha

* Firefighting efforts to continue for at least 7-10 days

BIG RIVER COUNTRY

* Northern side of the Great Divide in remote access area

* Fire is north of Melbourne water catchments

4.40PM: THE worst of the bushfires appears to be over, officials said, as firefighters battling the blazes welcomed cooler conditions after days of extreme heat.

Four homes were lost in a fire in the Grampians region, in western Victoria, where a massive 52,000-hectare blaze had threatened townships and prompted the evacuation of holiday spots.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the fires across the state, most of which were sparked by lightning, had burned through 100,000 hectares and 34 blazes were still burning.

But he said no emergency warnings were now in place and residents who had evacuated in the Grampians would be able to return home.

"I think the worst is behind us,'' Lapsley said.

4.10PM: RESIDENTS of Ouyen faced a bushfire emergency when most people were tucked up in bed asleep.

An emergency warning was issued in the early hours of Saturday for Ouyen's 1000 residents when the blaze raced out of the Bronzewing Flora and Fauna Reserve and towards the town.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said it was a serious situation.

"The fire looked extremely large in the sense that the glow in the sky was huge and showing up for many kilometres,'' he said.

"We were lucky the fire didn't come to the outskirts of Ouyen but it certainly was considered as a serious threat.''

Mr Lapsley said that most of the time, emergency warnings were issued and people told to enact their bushfire plans during the day.

He said Ouyen faced the added complexity that the town was under threat in the dark.

"I think that's very difficult for communities to understand. (It's) very difficult to warn people when they've actually gone to bed and very difficult for people to orientate themselves on what action they should take when it's in the night hours.''

State fire controller Alan Goodwin said the fire, a few kilometres south of Ouyen in the state's northwest, was very active after a wind change on Friday night.

"It made some runs on that wind but our firefighters were able to pick it up very quickly and contain it as it came out of the forest,'' Mr Goodwin said.

The blaze is one of several in the Mallee region, which have burned more than 40,000 hectares.

2PM: FIRES burning in the Grampians Junction, Halls Gap, Murrayville, Torrita, Underbool, Walpeup, Linga, Dadswells Bridge, St Helens Plains have all been downgraded by the CFA to watch and act.

12.30PM: LESSONS learned from Black Saturday have helped reduce the destruction as a severe bushfire tore through the Grampians, the Premier said.

But Denis Napthine urged Victorians to remain alert over the coming days, and throughout the rest of the fire season.

"While there are cooler conditions with the change, this fire is still going," he said.

"There are 35 fires going in Victoria.

"We face hot conditions again instead January and early February.

"This is a stark reminder to all Victorians that we live in a fire-prone part of the world."

Dr Napthine praised the residents of Halls Gap and Pomonal for heeding the call to "leave early and live".

He said there would be an opportunity for those people to return to their homes today.

Emergency relief grants of up to $1250 for families affected by bushfire and up to $31,000 for those who have lost their homes will be available, with residents able to apply at relief grant offices in relief centres.

Dr Napthine applauded the work of the emergency services to restrict the damage caused by the large Grampians blaze.

"The changes that have been made following Black Saturday, the lessons learned from Black Saturday, the better coordination of our agencies has meant that the way these extreme weather have been dealt with in 2014 have significantly improved and delivered significantly better outcomes than we had in 2009," he said.

"There is no doubt that the improvements that have been made as a result of Black Saturday have saved lives."

The government would soon look at beginning to rebuild the affected area and helping tourism operators in the popular holiday area rebuild and bring visitors back into the area.

"The government stands shoulder to shoulder with these people," Dr Napthine said.

"We will assist people who lost property and houses."

11.40AM: RESIDENTS forced to flee their homes in the fire-ravaged northern Grampians should be able to return to their homes today, with authorities this morning confident the worst has passed.

Grampians Incident Controller John Haynes said four houses had been confirmed as destroyed in the blaze - two near Dadswells Bridge and two in Brimpaen - along with a number of sheds and power poles and about 7500 sheep.

A woman also died in Roses Gap on Friday.

But Mr Haynes said her death "wasn't because of fire", but the result of a medical issue.

"We have sketchy information. The police took over the investigation yesterday morning," he said.

Mr Hayne said Halls Gap had so far been lucky to avoid the 51,000ha fire, thanks to an early wind change about 2pm on Friday.

The main fire got to within just 3km of the north Grampians town, while spot fires travelled "a lot closer", he said.

"That wind change came earlier than we expected, which was fortunate because the fire didn't extend a long way," Mr Hayne said.

"At 8pm we had a stronger southeasterly change of 60 to 80km/h which spread the fire north into the Mount Difficult Range and towards Dadswells Bridge."

Authorities are still concerned spot fires could cause damage in the town, and so have maintained an emergency warning for the area this morning.

"We want to make sure we have control of that this morning," Mr Haynes said.

He added residents of Pomonal, which escaped the blaze, would be the first to be allowed to go home today.

Dadswells Bridge and Halls Gap would also hopefully be reopened this afternoon.

Mr Haynes said the fire had come "extremely close" to the towns.

"All predictions were that there were gonna be numerous spot fires that would become fires in their own right. We took it very seriously."

11.20AM: MORE than 30 fires are raging out of control in Gippsland and there are fears they will merge into a half-a-million-hectare inferno.

State fire controller Alan Goodwin said there was "quite a bit'' of fire activity overnight around Club Terrace near Cann River and Orbost, as well as around Glenaladale in central Gippsland and Westbury.

News_Image_File: CFA firefighters Louie Carvalho, Keidan Dawson, Damien Speed and Mandy Maglaras from Warrnambool CFA pictured this morning getting ready for their day.

The fire emergency affecting Club Terrace in East Gippsland has eased with an emergency warning downgraded to a watch and act alert.

There are still multiple bushfires to the west and the north which could potentially affect nearby communities, a State Control Centre spokeswoman said.

Mr Goodwin said there's still 30-plus bushfires raging out of control in Gippsland.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley on Friday said lightning strikes started a series of fires in East Gippsland which were uniting into a single blaze that could soon cover an area of more than 500,000ha.

Mr Lapsley said the fire would likely take more than a week to be controlled.

News_Image_File: Fire bombing aircraft land to refuel and fill with water at the Stawell Aerodrome. Picture: Jason Edwards

10.15AM: A HUGE bushfire continues to threaten the Grampians National Park and may have damaged more property.

Authorities have been told the fire damaged two properties near the town of Dadswells Bridge.

The Grampians fire complex has been so intense it created a 12km-wide convection column, generating its own weather and lightning strikes and sparking smaller spotfires.

News_Image_File: CFA crews getting ready for the day at a Stawell staging ground.

9AM: FIREFIGHTERS will make use of milder conditions to try to gain control over a huge bushfire threatening Victoria.

At 7am this morning, firefighters were dealing with 35 blazes across Victoria, but only one emergency warning was still in place, down from three a few hours earlier.

Authorities have also received reports that more property was damaged by fire overnight at Dadswells Bridge.

The biggest concern remains the Grampians Junction blaze, which is burning close to Halls Gap.

State Control Centre spokeswoman Kim Payne said a southerly change last night caused erratic fire behaviour.

"That pushed the fire in a northerly direction to St Helens Plains and closed the western highway,'' she told AAP.

However, firefighters were able to stop its spread and an emergency warning for St Helens Plains was downgraded.

Ms Payne said conditions were milder today.

"The fire danger rating is very high whereas yesterday is was two steps above that,'' she said.

News_Image_File: Herald Sun reader Jacqueline Wilson sent in this image taken from a pub of lightning striking at Halls Gap last night. Picture: Jacqueline Wilson

8.30AM: AS fires continues to rage, these are the latest pictures that have come in from our photographers taken in the Grampians last night.

News_Image_File: The Grampians fire at the back of Dadswells Bridge. Picture: Jay Town

News_Image_File: Fire at Dadswells Bridge. Picture: Jay Town

8.02AM: THE CFA has issued an emergency warning for the communities of Grampians Junction and Halls Gap.

Spot fires and an ember attack are possible for Halls Gap as the fire burns to the west of the town in the Mount Difficult Range.

Fire authorities say it is too late to leave and the safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.

7.40AM: REPORTER Brendan Casey who flew over Halls Gap in a chopper has described the scene:

THE communities around Halls Gap looked more like ghost towns as fire crews worked to control the persistent Grampians fires.

Water bomber dumps water on #bushfires burning between Halls Gap and Stawell. pic.twitter.com/vxGXBdbLig — Brendan Casey (@BrendoHeraldSun) January 17, 2014

The sky was an ominous mix of orange and black as water bombers struggled to see clearly through the heavy smoke.

Aerial shot of some of the houses in Halls Gap. Town deserted. #bushfires pic.twitter.com/v9zBUwRKSh — Brendan Casey (@BrendoHeraldSun) January 17, 2014

Fortunately, most inhabitants had taken heed of the CFA warnings and evacuated, but scattered farmers could be seen taking shelter, hoping to avoid any cruel twist of fate.

The welcome southerly winds brought temperatures down as evening fell, but firefighters would be working well into the night to try and bring the blazes under control.

Looking out from the helicopter over the long stretches of farmland and the countless homes that were unaffected, we can be thankful that the damage wasn't much worse.

7.29AM: FIREFIGHTERS have continued to battle more than 50 blazes across the state, the worst of them in the Grampians which is still threatening the towns of Dadswells Bridge and Halls Gap.

The fire has burnt more than 51,000 ha and two properties near Dadswells Bridge may have been impacted by the fire.

The southerly wind change which moved across the area about 8pm last night caused erratic fire behaviour for several hours and caused the fire to spread in a northerly direction towards St Helens Plains.

Incident Controller Andrew Morrow said firefighters battled that section during the night, eventually containing it at 5am.

"We advised that leaving at the time was the safest option as fire behaviour was extremely unpredictable and conditions were becoming increasingly dangerous," Mr Morrow said.

He praised the efforts of ground crews and said they did a fantastic job overnight in difficult conditions.

"There is plenty of work still to be done in containing the fire and moving in to the recovery stage," he said.

"This morning in daylight hours we will be able to get a better assessment of what has occurred overnight and what needs to be done over the next few days."

Premier Denis Napthine will visit the bushfire affected communities later today.

The Western Highway and the Henty Highway are both expected to reopen this morning. Residents can keep up-to-date with the latest road closures at www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

6 .50AM: THE monstrous Victorian bushfire that killed a woman and is creating its own weather continues to menace towns in the Grampians.

The blaze is the chief concern for firefighters as a blustery wind change played havoc with fire conditions.

Several hundred firefighters worked across Friday night and this morning to protect Halls Gap and the surrounding areas of Ledcourt, Dadswells Bridge and Grampians Junction.

The fire has already claimed the life of a woman, found dead at her Roses Gap property on Friday morning, while at least two homes have been destroyed at Wartook.

A spokeswoman from the State Control Centre said conditions were incredibly difficult for the 621 firefighters in the area.

"The fire has caused a convection column which is creating its own weat - er - so lightning strikes and very erratic winds," she told AAP.

"The surrounding winds have also changed, so it's quite unpredictable."

In the state's eastern corner, residents of Club Terrace, near Orbost, anxiously awaited the progress of a bushfire burning to the town's north.

Authorities say a series of 25 fires sparked by lightning in east Gippsland were merging to create a single, massive bushfire which could grow to half a million hectares in size.

Fires have burnt through more than 40,000 hectares in the Mallee region and are expected to continue through the weekend.

While most of the state was cooled by south-westerlyerly change, conditions in Victoria's northeast will still be extremely hot on Saturday, with the temperature forecast to reach 40C at Wangaratta and 42C at Wodonga.

A total fire ban has been declared for the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland and West and South Gippsland fire districts today.

6.40AM: Fire are also threatening communities in South Australia. For latest see the Adelaide Advertiser

SATURDAY 6.30AM: Firefighters in Melbourne were also busy overnight after a blaze claimed an iconic Melbourne restaurant.

The Stokehouse was gutted in a blaze that was believed to have started in the kitchen.

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES AND LATEST

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FRIDAY 11:50PM: Erratic weather is fuelling the wild bushfires in the Grampians, as more than 600 firefighters attempt to control the blazes.

Strong winds and lightning are making it difficult for fire crews to contain around 75 fires across the state overnight.

The CFA has issued emergency warnings to St Helens Plain, Grampians Junction and Halls Gap.

About 41,000ha of land remains ablaze in the Grampians.

11:45PM: A fast-moving, out-of-control bushfire is travelling in a north easterly direction towards Ouyen.

An emergency warning has been issued and the CFA says it is too late for residents to leave.

9:58PM: Residents of Pomonal who decided to stay and defend their properties do not have access to water due to a fault in a major pipeline.

A spokeswoman from GWM Water said the kilometre-long pipeline between Halls Gap and Pomonal has damaged and crews are unable to repair the problem until tomorrow.

"There's no water supple to the town of Pomonal at the moment because of a break in the pipeline. It's unlikely to be restored until tomorrow," she said.

News_Image_File: A helicopter waterbombs the fire in the Grampians. Picture: CFA

9:47PM: A fire in the Licola and Tamboritha area is currently 50ha in size.

There is no threat to communities but campers and walkers in the Carey River catchment, north of the Avon Wilderness Park, the Lake Tarli Karng track network and the Mount Wellington to Millers Hut 4WD area are advised to leave and all visitors should stay away from these areas.

9:40PM: A fire in the Sunbury area are has subsided.

The CFA says the grassfire is now safe.

8.34PM: The fire in the Northern end of the Grampians National Park is now about 41,000ha in size and is travelling in a south easterly direction towards Halls Gap.

An emergency warning has been issued for Grampians Junction and Halls Gap and residents have been told it is too late to leave and to seek immediate shelter indoors.

News_Image_File: A Helicopter waterbombs the fire front near Black Ridge in the Grampians. Picture: Paul Loughnan.

8.07PM: The CFA says there is a fast-moving, out-of-control bushfire travelling in a north easterly direction from the Grampians National Park towards Dadswells Bridge and Ledcourt.

An emergency warning has been issued with the fire now approximately 3km south of Dadswells Bridge and 1.5km from Ledcourt.

The nearest relief centre that it is safe to travel to is at Horsham. The Western Highway is closed but residents will be able to use the Western Highway to leave.

7.55PM: An emergency warning has been issued for The Fingerboards, Glenaladale and Fernbank in the state's west.

The CFA says there is a fast-moving, out-of-control bushfire travelling in a south and easterly direction from Limpyers Road in the Fernbank State forest towards the Bairnsdale-Dargo and Fernbank -Glenaladale Roads and Honeysuckle Road, with spotfires and ember attacks occurring in the area.

Residents have been told it is too late to leave and to seek immediate shelter indoors.

7.27PM: Firefighters have stopped the spread of a 40ha grassfire in the Barkly area.

The CFA downgraded its warning to residents in Frenchmans, Landsborough, Redbank, Warrenmang, Moonambel and Barkly, saying the grassfire was under control.

News_Module: Victoria fire warnings

6.22PM: Speaking on the unfolding fire events, Premier Denis Napthine said:

"I am disappointed that people haven't taken the message (to evacuate)," he said.

"We had an unfortunate tragedy at Roses Gap where a local resident stayed when they were given advice to leave and they lost their life.

"That should be a very, very salient lesson to everybody that when you are told to leave, when you are told there is a huge risk to your life and property, then your life is worth saving by leaving early and making sure that you are safe.

"The threat is not over, there are 70 ongoing fires and particularly there are significant fires still in the Grampians, potentially in the Black Range ... in western Victornorth-westerntern Victoria in the Mallee and in very large fires in Gippsland."

He said he was "shocked, appalled and disgusted" of reports some fires may have been deliberately lit.

"The is no words that can be used to describe the lowlife that would light fires in these situations," he said.

"They are putting lives at risk, lives of ordinary citizens, they're putting the lives of CFA volunteers, of MFB and CFA professionals."

He thanked emergency services and volunteers.

6.19PM: Fires burning for days across 40,000ha in VictorinorthwestwMallee Regiongion are expected to continue through the weekend.

Several bushfires are burning out of control in the Mallee with firefighters bracing for the aftermath of this afternoon's strong wind change.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the fires were now 40,000ha in size.

He said it would be a very difficult fire for firefighters once the strong south-westerly wind change moved through.

"We could only hope that they get on top of it by the end of the day but our assessment is this fire will continue to be a going fire into tomorrow and the weekend."

Nine aircraft are supporting about 250 firefighters in the battle to control the blazes occurring mainly in parkland and reserves.

Hopetoun West, Hopevale and Kenmare were also put on an emergency alert for tonight with a bushfire headed south from Paradise Flora and Fauna Reserve towards Kenmare.

Residents in all the towns are being told that leaving their homes is the safest option.

Residents have been urged to heed authorities' advice as fire in the Grampians burns on. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

6.05PM: Firefighters have stopped the spread of a grassfire at Emu in central Victoria although it is not yet under control.

An emergency warning was downgraded to a watch and act alert late this afternoon.

6.01PM: Premier Denis Napthine is receiving a briefing on the fire situation at the State Control Centre.

5.40PM: Fire crews have wrested control of grassfires along the Hume Freeway.

The CFA downgraded its warning to residents at 4.35pm, saying the firefighters had stopped the spread of the fire.

Donnybrook, Epping, Kalkallo, Lalor, Somerton, Roxburgh Park, Campbellfield and Craigieburn are no longer under threat.

Emergency service vehicles are still in the affected areas and motorist are urged to take care on the roads as visibility is low and smoke is still present.

Major roads, including the Hume Freeway, are still closed.

Gisborne Incident Control Centre deputy incident controller Roger Walker said the cause of the three fires was still not yet determined.

Read more about the Hume Freeway fires here

5.19PM: Police confirm the person found dead earlier to - aye - the first victim of the fi - es - was a woman.

She was found in Roses Gap, northwest of Stawell.

News_Image_File: Smoke from the Grampians fire blankets the sky. Photo: Jake Nowakowski

5.09PM: CFA update:

Firefighters dealing with around 70 going fires. There are 9 Emergency Warnings, 7 Watch and Act and 42 Advice messages across Victoria. — CFA Updates (@CFA_Updates) January 17, 2014

5.07PM: A total fire ban will remain in place tomorrow for the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland and West and South Gippsland districts.

4 .55PM: The CFA has issued an emergency warning for the Glenaladale area near Bairnsdale

Residents have been told to seek immediate shelter indoors because it is too late to leave.

"There is a fast moving, out of control bushfire travelling in a south and easterly direction from Limpyers Road in the Fernbank State forest towards the Bairnsdale-Dargo and Fernbank -Glenaladale Roads and Honeysuckle Road," a CFA alert said.

4.33PM: south-westerlyerly change is moving through the northern Grampians.

It has passed through Stawell and is moving through Halls Gap towards the Wimmera.

News_Image_File: Firefighters battle a blaze threatening to break containment lines near Westbury in Gippsland. Picture: Alex Coppel

4.32PM: The Grampians fire has a 12km convection column which is generating its own weather conditions, Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley says.

"As we speak they are having lightning in the area generated by that convection column, they are having spot fires dropping in and around Halls Gap."

The fire front was about two kilometres north of Halls Gap by about 4pm.

As well as the emergency warnings applying for the northern Grampians areas that were warned to evacuate, one was also issued for the Black Range, Mokepilly and Rhymney, west of Halls Gap, effective 3.30pm.

An emergency warning has also been issued for Glenaladale and Davidsons Road, Iguana Creek, in East Gippsland due to a fast-moving, out-of-control grassfire.

News_Image_File: A waterbombing helicopter returns to Halls Gap from the firefont this afternoon. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

4.10PM: Residents in the northwest Victorian towns of Tempy and Gypsum have been issued an emergency bushfire warning, the second in as many days.

A fast-moving, out-of-control bushfire is heading towards Tempy, near Ouyen.

It is expected to impact Tempy, Gypsum and Pier Milan by about 5.30pm today.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the fire would be the product of more than 25 smaller blazes joining together.

"That fire has the potential to burn significant areas over the next couple of days," he said.

An emergency warning is in place for Club Terrace, near Mallacoota.

The Princes Highway between Orbost and Cann River will be closed on Friday afternoon.

3.50PM: Two community activity centres in Epping have been evacuated and several child care centres advised to enact emergency plans if required as fire continue to burn along the Hume Freeway.

The Barry Road Community Activity Centre and the Epping Views Family and Community Centre in Lyndarum Drive, have been evacuated as a precaution. Buildings are not under fire threat.

Whittlesea Council has also closed activity centres in Mernda and Doreen.

All child care centres in the City of Whittlesea have been notified of fire incidents and advised to enact emergency plans if required ... read more

3.19PM: A fire burning in Gippsland could soon reach half a million hectares.

Emergency Services Minister Kim Wells said the out-of-control bushfire in Gippsland could soon be more than 500,000 hectares in size.

Mr Wells said efforts would be made to protect electricity transmission lines in the area.

News_Image_File: CFA crews battle a fire in Trafalgar, West Gippsland, that was started by a lightning strike. Picture: Alex Coppel News_Image_File: A firefighter is treated for heat exhaustion while battling the Trafalgar blaze. Picture: Alex Coppel

3.16PM: Arsonists have deliberately sparked 12 fires in Victoria as soaring temperatures and strong winds create the most dangerous fire conditions since Black Saturday.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said police believe 12 of the 68 fires burning across the state were deliberately lit.

Most of those fires were sparked on the urban fringes of Melbourne, including three grass fires in Epping, in the city's north. Detectives are now investigating those fires.

News_Image_File: A bushfire in the Grampians National Park heads towards the township of Halls Gap. Picture: Stuart McEvoy News_Image_File: Photo: Jake Nowakowski.

3.13PM: A bushfire burning in the Grampians could claim more lives and damage properties, the state's fire services commissioner says.

The 21,000ha bushfire in the Grampians region has already killed one person at Roses Gap and is now threatening Halls Gap and surrounding towns.

An evacuation notice has been issued for the towns of Halls Gap, Pomonal, Bellfield, Lake Fyans, Lake Lonsdale, Roses Gap, Dadswells Bridge, Heatherlie and Ledcourt.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley says the threat to the area will increase asouth-westerlyerly change comes through on Friday afternoon.

The fire is expected to move into the holiday town of Halls Gap.

"There is a fair chance of losing property and even, if people are caught in the wrong space, a life could be lost," he told reporters.

Fire rages over the Grampians, spot fires occurring through the area as winds pick up @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/7Tg6gFucK0 — Tom Minear (@tminear) January 17, 2014

2.56PM: Spot fires continue to burn along the Hume Freeway at Craigieburn, Epping and Thomastown.

Craigieburn resident Jo Hain-Hardie said her house was near a fire.

"We can see the smoke and the helicopters are going overhead and everything (but) I think with everybody in the area, as long as they're aware and they just take precautions, there really shouldn't be too much of an issue," Ms Hain-Hardie said.

Read more on the fires at Craigieburn, Epping and Thomastown

News_Image_File: Firefighters battle a grass blaze beside the Hume Highway. Photo: Andrew Henshaw

2.28PM: Seven bushfires are burning out of control across VictorinorthwestwMallee Regiongion, with crews preparing for an expected wind change.

Eleven aircraft are supporting more than 200 firefighters in the battle to control the blazes occurring mainly in parkland and reserves.

One of the main focuses of Department of Environment and Primary Industry and Parks Victoria firefighters is a 6,500-hectare blaze in parkland near Ouyen.

The fire is at the Bronzewing Flora And Fauna Reserve, which covers an area of about 12,000 hectares, and work is under way to prevent the blaze worsening under changing wind conditions expected later today.

Mildura incident controller Damian Kerr says crews want to make progress early before the strong south-westerly change sweeps through.

Visibility in the area is low, and the Sunraysia Highway has been closed between the Calder Highway and the township of Speed.

Another high priority is a 20,000-hectare blaze in the Big Desert Wilderness Park near the South Australian border.

That fire is impacting on the Red Bluff Flora and Fauna Reserve and Murrayville-Nhill Road has been closed.

Firefighters are also battling a number of other fires which have merged near the Lake Albacutya Freeway Track in south-eastern Wyperfeld.

Fires are also burning near Rocket Lake in Murray Sunset National Park and next to Underbool Track in Wyperfeld National Park.

Both national parks have been closed along with Hattah Kulkyne National Park.

Authorities are urging people to stay informed and travellers in the area should plan their trip.

2.24PM: Victoria's extreme weather and bushfires could cause unexpected power outages after searing heat this week pushed the system to capacity.

High temperatures drove the network to the limit and while forced outages were flagged to stabilise the network during extreme conditions, none occurred.

But the Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) says any threat to reliable power supply may still be caused, although by bushfires and weather, rather than high demand.

This is what is sitting above Stawell at the moment. Really eerie.. pic.twitter.com/aXsnV73W0a — Michael Scanlan (@MScanlan7) January 17, 2014

2.22PM: A man who lit a fire at a Gippsland camping site had a radio on airing total fire ban warnings, police say.

The 45-year-old was one of two men interviewed by police yesterday over lighting a fire at Yarram on a total fire ban day.

Police say when they arrived a radio was on in the background and was airing total fire ban warnings.

Officers also interviewed a 48-year-old man after he allegedly lit a campfire on Bullock Island in Lakes Entrance.

High temp and winds building the blaze at #Westbury with spotting in nearby paddock @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/DkAK8zAgx9 — Ashley Argoon (@AshArgoon) January 17, 2014

2.18PM: The Hume Freeway remains closed from Cooper St as firefighters continue to battle "multiple fires" between Donnybrook and Epping.

Fire authorities urged residents wanting to leave their homes to get away from the grass fire along the Hume Freeway to fall back three blocks from their properties.

The latest CFA Watch and Act message said people should avoid driving due to low visibility and to help avoid traffic congestion.

Emergency services say the fire is unlikely to spread past fences and houses.

Multiple fires are burning out of control in grassland from Beveridge toward the Metropolitan Ring Rd.

The Hume freeway is closed at Cooper St. The CFA urged residents not to approach the fire affected area.

Read more on the fires at Craigiburn, Epping and Thomastown

News_Image_File: Grass fires burn beside the old Hume Highway (Sydney Rd) at Craigieburn. Photo: Andrew Henshaw

1.39PM: The CFA has issued an Emergency Warning for Club Terrace in East Gippsland.

There is a fast moving, out-of-control bushfire travelling in a easterly direction towards Club Terrace. Spotfires and ember attacks are expected from nearby fires.

Club Terrace and the surrounding area could be impacted anytime within the next one to two hours.

Residents are advised to travel to the relief centre at Cann River P-12 School, Tamboon Road, he Orbost relief centre, Orbost Secondary School or the home of family or friends that is away from the warning area.

1.32PM: Evelyn Cox was one of the last residents to leave Halls Gap at 1.30pm.

"It doesn't look too good, does it?", she said in the town's main street, as it was blanketed by smoke and eerie orange clouds.

Ms Cox said she had lived in Halls Gap for 32 years but she was fleeing with her bed in her van ... read more

The empty main street in Halls Gap @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/lnHwGKBtM3 — Tom Minear (@tminear) January 17, 2014

1.26PM: The CFA has issued a Watch and Act warning for a grassfire in Racecourse Rd, Sunbury.

The warning was issued just before midday and affects Dunrossil Drive, Hopbush Ave, Correa Way, Lock Court and Marshall Close.

The fire is moving in a southerly direction.

A CFA spokeswoman Sarah Dunning said residents in the area should leave now.

The fire is currently burning through grassland.

1.25PM: Trains on the Craigieburn line are being suspended from Essendon as a fire continues to burn at Epping, Metro says.

There is currently no movement on the V/Line Seymour line. V/Line has advised the Southern Cross to Shepparton service is operating as a road coach. The Hume Freeway remains closed from Cooper St.

1.24PM: Bunnings Craigieburn has been evacuated after the median strip behind the store caught fire ... read more

1.16PM: A CFA strike team of five trucks will stay and fight in Halls Gap but most residents have already fled.

Firefighters say the situation is increasingly dangerous but they will patrol the town as the fire moves closer.

A wind change could come at 2pm, much earlier than initially expected, and people in the Grampians have received emergency text messages urging them to "leave now".

News_Rich_Media: Authorities have ordered residents of Halls Gap and surrounds to evacuate. Courtesy Channel Ten

1.12PM: FIRE crews battling a suspicious grass fire between Donnybrook and Epping are praying wind conditions remain calm.

Six fires have broken out along the Hume Freeway between Donnybrook Rd and Cooper St, affecting grassland in Craigieburn, Epping and Thomastown.

The fire started about noon and has not reached houses or businesses. MFB, CFA and air crews are at the scene.

12.48PM: A person has been found dead in Roses Gap, police say.

"The death is being treatedoccurringring as a result of the fires," a police statement said.

"Arson and Explosives Squad investigators are heading to the scene."

News_Image_File: The CFA battles the dangerous fire in the northern Grampians. Picture: CFA

12.26PM: Residents in Roses Gap, Dadswells Bridge, Heatherlie, Ledcourt, are being "strongly recommended" to evacuate and take shelter at the Relief Centre at the Stawell Leisure Centre.

Dozens of cars are driving along Grampians Rd with their headlights on as they evacuate from small towns in the Grampians, including Halls Gap.

One person appeared to have been forced to abandon a broken down 4WD that was carrying several lambs.

Black smoke is making the mountain range almost impossible to see.

News_Image_File: Waterbombing planes fight fires in the Grampians. Picture: CFA News_Image_File: Picture: CFA

12.21PM: Emergency services are urging people to avoid swimming in the Yarra River at Warrandyte during today's severe fire warning conditions ... read more here

11.55AM: Up to seven fires have started along the Hume Freeway between Wallan Rd and Craigieburn Rd ramp, Craigieburn.

They are believed to be suspicious.

Police, CFA and MFB are attending.

11.27AM: A man and woman have been charged for using firelighters to start a barbecue at a Wonga Park reserve amid extreme temperatures.

Lighting a fire on a total fire ban day carries a maximum fine of $34,646 and/or two years imprisonment ... read more here

10.4 M: An evacuation order has been issued for towns in the northern Grampians.

Residents in Pomonal, Bellfield, Lake Fyans, Halls Gap, Lake Lonsdale are being warned to leave now as the fire continues to rage.

People are being urged to seek shelter at a relief centre in Stawell.

The CFA said the fire was out of control and would hit its peak this afternoon.

News_Rich_Media: Vic firefighters are bracing for what they expect to be their toughest day yet of the continuing heat wave.

EARLIER TODAY: An Emergency Warning remains in place for the communities of Wartook, Brimpaen, Heathvale, and Laharum in the northwest entrance of the Grampians.

A Watch and Act alert for the communities of Cherrypool, Glenisla and Glenisla Crossing was upgraded to an Emergency Warning at 7.25am.

A CFA State Control Centre spokeswoman said the historic Troopers Creek cabin and a number of buildings at the Happy Wanderer Holiday Resort in the Wartook Valley had been destroyed.

She said the bushfire was affecting a number of private properties, and that houses may have been destroyed.

Incident controller Andrew Morro said most residents in the Wartook Valley left yesterday.

The CFA said the bushfire has the potential to reach the Henty Hwy by 9am. The highway is now closed at Cavendish.

Horsham Mayor David Grimble stayed behind to defend his home in the northern Grampians, and told 3AW he had a hectic night after the blaze broke out of the national park, headed west and then turned south.

"Certainly we think a number of other properties were impacted very heavily," he said.

"But with a lot of good assistance from some other emergency services we were successful in saving not only my property but a number of properties in the Wartook, Laharum and Brimpaen area."

WIND CHANGE TO BRING 'DIRE' CONDITIONS

The CFA said the 11500ha bushfire was moving quickly and strong northwesterly winds ahead of a late gusouth-westerlyerly change at 5pm will bring "dire" conditions.

Extra fire crews have been sent this morning to battle the blaze.

"At the Grampians fire, we're expecting winds of up to 40km/h. What we do know is it really is when these big wind changes hit that things become serious," CFA State Control Centre spokesman Leigh Miezis said.

News_Image_File: The fire rages in Wartook State Forest in the northern Grampians. Picture: Ian Wilson

News_Image_File: south-westerlyerly wind change will bring "dire" conditions, the CFA says.

News_Image_File: A firefighter at work in a remote area of the northern Grampians.

NEW BUSHFIRES

The CFA said 25 new bushfires started overnight in the southern and northern ends of the Grampians, East Gippsland and southwest Victoria. All regions were hit with lightning.

A CFA State Control Centre spokeswoman said 43 fires were going across the state this morning and a further five were controlled, with the largest a 25,000ha collective of desert fires at Lake Albacutya in the state's northwest.

The CFA expects to focus most of its attention on the Grampians, Gippsland and the Otways Ranges today as the severe heatwave enters its fourth day.

The alert for a bushfire that threatened the communities of Trafalgar and Westbury in West Gippsland yesterday has been downgraded to Advice.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said predictions for today of 44C-plus temperatures, strong winds and the late change made for some of the state's worst conditions since 2009.

"It's certainly up there - the fact that we've had a pre-run of three, four days of this sort of weather," he said.

A total fire ban has been declared for the entire state today.

LATE RELIEF FOR MELBOURNE

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Terry Ryan said the mercury was expected to rise steadily in Melbourne throughout the day to reach 30C by about 9am, 40C by 1pm and the maximum forecast temperature of 44C by 4pm or 5pm.

The much anticipated cool change is expected to kick in from late afternoon to evening across Victoria, with the exception of the state's northeast which is forecast to remain about 40C.

Mr Ryan said the temperature would drop almost instantly from about 40C to 25C in Melbourne between 8pm and 9pm.

"It's a bit late for an enjoyable night out, but we should lose almost 15C straight away," Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said the change would bring with it a chance of thunderstorms.

Emergency Services Minister Kim Wells said Victorians needed to be aware of the potential danger facing them.

"(It) will be a crucial day: hot temperatures and the wind picking up, it's absolutely crucial ... that people ... are checking their fire plans and understanding their fire danger situation," Mr Wells said yesterday.

Crews were kept busy by 1000 new incidents yesterday, most of which were small fires sparked by lightning strikes.

A fire also forced the closure of the Frankston line between Carrum and Frankston, and some 20,000 people in the area were left without power.

The blaze also left the Frankston Freeway closed between EastLink and Frankston-Dandenong Rd.

News_Image_File: Firefighters battle the blaze in Trafalgar which is under control. Picture: Alex Coppel

News_Image_File: A fire near Yaapeet in northwest Victoria is under control. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

PARKS CLOSED

Parks Victoria has closed a number of parks today including the 1000 Steps in the Dandenong Ranges National Park due to the severe fire danger.

District manager Craig Bray said the Dandenong Ranges was a "very high risk area" for fire.

"Popular sites like the 1000 Steps offer very little protection or refuge opportunities, making it a very dangerous place to be when there are elevated fire risks," Mr Bray said.

"A fire can start at any time in any area of the park, which means you don't know where a potential fire danger is going to come from, and you may not get any warning it's coming."

Visitor areas One Tree Hill, Sherbrooke, O'Donohue, Valley, Eagles Nest, Doongalla, Grants Picnic Ground, Fern Tree Hill and Kalorama Park are also closed.

Mr Bray warned people who enter the parks during closures could be fin - d.

- with Samantha Landy, Michelle Ainsworth, Angus Thompson, Sophie Aubrey, Ashley Argoon , Shaun Campbell

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