Hundreds flee homes as gusts threaten to push fires towards towns

A Country Fire Authority officer inspects a burnt out Smeaton fire truck near the township of Daylesford, northwest of Melbourne. Photo / AP

CANBERRA - Victoria was waiting tensely last night for an expected wind change that threatened to hurl major fires beyond their containment lines and towards more towns and villages.

Strong northerly winds hit the state during the afternoon, forcing firefighters back from some fronts, smashing down trees around Melbourne and cutting power to some areas.

Gusts reached more than 120km/h in alpine areas.

The wind was forecast to swing back to powerful southerly gales late last night, creating serious problems for the 500 firefighters deployed along hundreds of kilometres of fire front.

Hundreds of residents of towns potentially in the path of the fires fled their homes, and others were warned that they must now be prepared to stay and defend properties that emergency teams might not be able to reach.

Police and fire authorities also renewed their warnings about arson, following a deliberately-lit grass fire on the outskirts of Melbourne.

Some of the Black Saturday fires that killed 210 people were the work of arsonists, and one man has been charged with starting a major blaze in which more than 20 people died.

There was some relief yesterday as temperatures fell below expected maximums and light rain fell across some of the threatened areas.

But with high winds roaring through the state, the danger remained extreme.

"Temperature is irrelevant when our fuel is dry like it is," Country Fire Authority chief officer Russell Rees said.

Late yesterday, about 3000 firefighters backed by earthmoving equipment and aircraft were working on the lines that had so far contained the four major burning fires in the Kilmore East-Murrindindi area, the Bunyip State Park and Wilsons Promontory.

Another 2000 were held in reserve.

More than 1000 firefighters have been drawn from other states and overseas, including units from New Zealand that were praised by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

"Your Kiwi firefighters have been fantastic," he told Prime Minister John Key during their meeting in Sydney on Monday.

He applauded the "extraordinary expression" of friendship, support and solidairy from the people of New Zealand, who had raised $2 million for the Victorian bushfire appeal.

"This has meant a lot to Australians," Rudd said.

A new contingent of 57 New Zealand firefighters will fly by RNZAF Hercules to Victoria today, relieving 53 others who have been battling Australia's worst-ever bushfires.

Yesterday, units in some areas were pulled back because of the danger of trees falling down in gale-force winds, and the risk of sudden, deadly changes in fire behaviour.

A tree brought down by wind partly demolished a house on the fringes of Melbourne, and even before the winds began reaching its peak, the State Emergency Service had received dozens of calls for help.

The SES urged workers to leave early to avoid danger on the roads.

The state government shut about 400 schools, kindergartens and childcare centres, and closed 30 national parks.

The state had already trialled a text warning system, sending messages through major telecommunications networks to more than three million mobile phones.

State Premier John Brumby urged against complacency as temperatures failed to reach forecast maximums and showers fell in some areas.

He said while fire danger ratings across the state were lower than expected, they still reached up to 150.