At least 50 homes have been lost to an out-of-control blaze along Victoria's Great Ocean Road which has caused evacuations and burnt 2,000 hectares.

Key points: At least 50 homes destroyed in Great Ocean Road fire

At least 50 homes destroyed in Great Ocean Road fire About 2,000 hectares burnt

About 2,000 hectares burnt Four towns evacuated: Separation Creek, Wye River, Kennett River, Grey River

Four towns evacuated: Separation Creek, Wye River, Kennett River, Grey River More than 300 firefighters battling the blaze overnight

More than 300 firefighters are battling the blaze overnight but are being hindered by the heavily forested terrain.

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The towns of Wye River, Grey River, Kennett River and Separation Creek have been evacuated, with only four people choosing to stay behind to protect their homes.

Residents and holidaymakers were also urged to leave Lorne and Allenvale, with Torquay and Geelong the safest options.

Deputy incident controller Mark Gunning said earlier in the evening weather conditions would push the fire east towards Lorne.

"We expect this fire to travel during the night under the southerly change, the south-westerly wind will come in and push this fire along the coast towards Lorne," Mr Gunning said.

Homes have been lost in Wye River and Separation Creek.

No injuries or fatalities have been reported.

A cool change from South Australia is bringing strong winds which is expected to make the situation worse, but rain is expected overnight.

The Great Ocean Road between Skenes Creek and Torquay is closed and Victoria Police said road blocks would be in place for quite some time, possibly days.

Bushfires have claimed more than 50 homes and scorched about 2,000 hectares of land in Victoria. ( CFA: Keith Pakenham )

Many people who have evacuated from their homes gathered at the Apollo Bay Leisure Centre.

Tom Jacobs lives in Separation Creek and had taken shelter there.

"We took our two dogs, a cat and a chook and the car is with us," Mr Jacobs told the ABC.

He later received confirmation his home was safe. His dad, Peter Jacobs, is a volunteer firefighter and said it was the worst fire he had ever seen.

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Bruce Hutchinson from Kennett River also sought refuge at an evacuation centre. When the ABC spoke to him in the afternoon, he did not know if his home survived the fire.

"It's been a very draining situation. Sorry if I'm breaking down a bit, but we're just keeping our fingers crossed," he said.

The area along the state's surf coast is a very popular spot with holidaymakers during the Christmas and New Year period.

A steady trail of cars was seen entering Apollo Bay as people in the area moved from the fire's path, with many mingling at the local beach.

The ABC's Sarah Jaensch is staying at Separation Creek and said people were taking heed of the CFA's warnings early on.

"As we drove through Wye River the caravan parks were packing up, everyone is leaving and getting out of there fortunately, and taking it seriously," she said.

Volunteer Patrick Carey said it was a normal Christmas Day for many until the smoke loomed large on the horizon.

"They were all prepared to put their barbecues on, they were cooking away, and all of sudden they could see the smoke coming over the hill, they thought it was still four hours away according to what they'd heard," he said.

"Then all of a sudden, it was an hour away and then it was half an hour away. So they just dropped everything, stopped cooking and headed here."

A fire burns at Apollo Bay in Victoria on Christmas Day, 2015. ( ABC: Andy Burns )

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