At least five properties and multiple other structures have been destroyed and more losses are expected as fires continue to rage across Victoria on Sunday with temperatures reaching almost 40C.

The largest fire was burning in Bunyip state park about 65km east of Melbourne and fire crews reported assessment of the damage was being hindered by the difficult terrain and active fire. That fire, in the state’s Gippsland area, had grown to 6,500 hectares. The fires burning throughout the state were sparked by lightning strikes.

The threat to Longwarry is imminent. Labertouche residents were being told to evacuate in the morning but by Sunday afternoon the premier, Daniel Andrews, said the message had changed.

ASSET PROTECTION: fire crews have cut dozens of control lines to protect homes from #BunyipFire @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/bzvDxuTXWm — Dougal Beatty (@DougalBeatty) March 3, 2019

“We know that earlier there was advice put out in relation to people to evacuate from Labertouche and Glenn Annie,” he said. “Those people need to shelter in place. The next fire at Yinnar South, just south of Churchill, it’s 1,000 hectares at the moment and it’s been growing… there’s still an opportunity for you to leave that particular area.”

Others in areas including Bunyip have been told it is too late to leave, while Budgeree residents were still being told to evacuate at 3.30pm. Cornucopia, Garfield, Maryknoll, Nar Nar Goon, Tonimbuk and Tynong are all under threat.

More than 900 homes in the Bunyip area were without power which was not expected to be restored until at least Sunday evening. The cause was being investigated.

“It’s not a matter of if or may for further property damages that we might see today, it’s a matter of we will,” Trevor Owen, the assistant chief officer of the Country Fire Authority, told reporters.

“We can’t be be everywhere and everything to everybody so we need the community to do their part, adhere to the messagings, both warnings and advice.”

More than 300 firefighters were on the fire ground with 10 aircraft and 100 tankers.

Wild winds were making the firefighting effort harder and because the fire had become so large, it was creating its own winds too.

Bunyip State Park fire: Devastating scenes this morning. Multiple properties have been lost. LATEST: https://t.co/M2ZDgqAElS #9News pic.twitter.com/ioIL9vcV9N — Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) March 2, 2019

Owen said more lightning was also expected on Sunday afternoon. He said if people chose to stay and defend, they needed to be well prepared.

“Do not put your own life in danger and that of your family unless you are well prepared, adhere to the messages and advice,” Owen said.

This Emergency Warning is being issued for areas north of the railway line for the #Bunyip fire. #VicFires



You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.



Head to https://t.co/RHmSwpqjJT for information. pic.twitter.com/NspS0AyssH — CFA Updates (@CFA_Updates) March 3, 2019

Two homes were also lost in the Budgeree-Wilsons Promontory fires, incident controller for those blazes, Peter West, told ABC.

“Unfortunately we’ve had confirmed two house loses with the fire and some unconfirmed reports about other assets,” West said.

There were 30 fires still burning out of control across Victoria as of 3.30pm on Sunday and the main focus was on asset protection, authorities said. The Princes Freeway is closed between Koo Wee Rup Road, Pakenham and Princes Way, Drouin, where there was heavy congestion by Sunday afternoon.

An emergency warning remained in place for a fire at Budgeree in the Latrobe Valley which has burnt about 687 hectares.

Hot temperatures were expected again across the state on Sunday, with the ban in place until midnight. Temperatures were not expected to cool significantly until Wednesday.

The weather forecaster Dean Narromore told the ABC: “We could see widespread shower and thunderstorm activity with this front on Tuesday.

“Hopefully some welcome rainfall, but of course there’s that threat of lightning again that could start new fires,” he said.

The fire danger rating was severe for the central district and very high for the rest of the state.

For the latest emergency warnings in Victoria visit cfa.vic.gov.au.