Hunt for firebug as Victoria continues to burn

A Sydney resident hoses down his property during a bushfire. Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - Police are today hunting a firebug who started a blaze in Victoria's east, as firefighters continue battling four large bushfires engulfing the state.

Warragul police are appealing for witnesses who may have information about the Moondarra State Forest blaze, which was deliberately lit on January 19.

Today entering its ninth day, the fire has so far destroyed more than 13,000ha and is threatening homes in several townships.

Fire investigators say the blaze was lit near Seminis Track at Erica on the same day several campers were evicted from a campground in the area.

More than 30 towns across Victoria are under threat from four major bushfires.

Gusty northerly winds and 40degC temperatures stretched fire crews to the limit throughout yesterday, as some of the fires - which have claimed 27 homes and three lives - breached containment lines.

A south-westerly wind change and sporadic rainfall brought some relief late yesterday, but severe storms and lightening created unpredictable fire conditions overnight.

The Country Fire Authority said conditions would intensify again today as temperatures again top 30degC across the state and amid unstable weather continues.

The largest fire, in the Grampians, 250km west of Melbourne, yesterday spotted into the northern end of the Victoria Ranges, fuelled by severe squalling north north-easterly winds.

The fire was advancing towards The Pinnacle, a popular tourist lookout overnight and has burned 120,000ha.

Residents south of the Grampians were on high alert but Halls Gap was not directly threatened, the CFA said.

Houses at Kinglake, 70km north-east of Melbourne, were under direct threat last night from a large bushfire advancing from the nearby Kinglake National Park.

The fire has burned 1600ha.

At Anakie, near Geelong, a 7200ha fire that destroyed a number of homes earlier this week breached control lines several times, but outbreaks were quickly contained.

Power outages were experienced in the area as the flames brought down power lines.

- AAP