The opportunity to see the true devastation caused by one of the fast-moving fires in south-west Victoria is only possible when the fight against the blaze has been won by firefighters.

We're escorted into the fire ground, which is still closed to the public, by fire management officials, and the CFA.

A thick grey smoke covers the countryside and the air smells of ash and burning hay bales.

Beef and dairy cattle are farmed in the south-west. ( ABC News: Jonathan Hair )

The once-green paddocks are now black as far as the eye can see. Trees that have stood for decades have been felled by the heat of the flames.

The fire near the small town of Cobden is burning within containment lines, but the howling wind means there is the constant risk it could spark back up.

A local stares out at the damage. ( ABC News: Jonathan Hair )

We find locals starting to take in the damage, like Rebecca Jones, who is staring at the charred remains of her house, shed and car.

She finds the strength to talk about the ordeal.

"You looked out the front door of what is … was our house, and there was just the most beautiful skyline," Ms Jones said.

"We just love it here."

Rebecca Jones lost her house to the fire. ( ABC News: Jonathan Hair )

Nearby, on a dead-end road, local farmers are back on the land, assessing the damage to property and livestock.

Farmers have suffered devastating losses. ( ABC News: Jonathan Hair )

Fences are down and sheep and cattle roam freely, mainly gathering around hay bales which are burning and letting off a smelly smoke.

When you're hungry, food on fire is still food.

Hungry cattle eat smoking hay. ( ABC News: Jonathan Hair )

Farmer Bernie Lenaghan has lost his house up the road, but is helping his neighbours round up stray animals when he stops to talk.

The strain of the past few days and nights are evident when his voice falters.

"When you've got to driveaway from something that was there the day before it kicks you a bit," he said with a small smile.

Down a gully and up a ridge, we meet firefighters on the front line.

They execute the painstaking task of covering every metre of ground with water, to ensure the blaze doesn't cause more trouble.

They are covered in soot, water and dirt and haven't slept in a while.

A dirty CFA firefighter returns to base for a break while fighting fires. ( ABC News: Jonathan Hair )

Their trucks' alarm goes off, meaning it is time to go back to the staging area to fill back up and head out to the fire ground again.

Something Rebecca Jones said earlier in the day rings true.

"You just can't thank firefighters enough because they drive towards that sort of thing while we're just trying to get the heck out," she said.