Victoria bushfires: 18 homes destroyed as four bushfires still burn
Eighteen homes have been destroyed and 40,000 hectares blackened in Victoria's worst fires of the season.
Fire crews are still working to extinguish four significant blazes in the state's south-west.
Firefighters worked throughout the night to contain blazes known as Terang, Gnotuk, Garvoc and Gazette, north of Warrnambool.
Fires in Terang destroyed several properties and killed livestock.
Photo: Paul JeffersConditions are still gusty in the south but firefighters are hopeful of getting the blazes under control on Monday after a challenging weekend battling fast-moving flames in winds up to 100km/h in the dark.
Since 10am on Saturday, there have been 160 bush and grass fires, which have burned 40,000 hectares across the state.
Victorian firefighters also helped battle a blaze that destroyed at least 70 buildings in Tathra, on the NSW Far South Coast on Sunday night.
By 8am on Monday there were 26 fires across the state, 13 contained and 13 still going.
The four major fires have burned 15,000 hectares.
Emergency Services Minister James Merlino said on Sunday hot and difficult conditions had triggered the biggest fire event of Victoria's season.
Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the causes of the state's fires would be investigated but early indications indicated lightning was to blame.
Almost 300 firefighters spent the night containing the blaze at Terang.
By 8am on Monday, that grass fire had burned 6794 hectares and destroyed 18 houses and 42 outbuildings.
There has also been significant losses to livestock and crops in the dairying and grain-farming area.
Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said fires had really affected the farming community.
"We have communities that have lost so much," he told ABC television.
"If you lose the home, the farm, the sheds, the herd. A herd is like part of the family."
Mr Lapsley said he expected firefighters to make progress with milder conditions on Monday.
"[The fires] still have hot spots in them. And we still have wind, but nowhere near the wind speeds over the last 24 hours," he said.
Tony Murphy from Emergency Management Victoria said the SES had received 1100 requests for assistance over the weekend.
"It was a scary period of time," he told radio station 3AW.
"We're so ecstatic about the fact no one has died. We've really brought these things to the ground really quickly."
About 700 firefighters are still on the ground battling the four major fires.
Mr Lapsley said a decision had been made on Sunday to keep schools open on Monday.
"Although some children may not get to school, because the buses aren't able to get them, or the parents have decided to keep them home, we thought it was a important decision to get kids back to school," he told ABC.
"At least they may have a chance, they may not learn much tonight, but it's about the wellbeing of them. That's important."
Power had been restored to most houses in the area. Up to 40,000 were without electricity on Sunday. By Monday morning, power had been restored to all but 1700.
Fires in Terang left a trail of destruction.
Photo: Paul Jeffers"The ones without power now, will probably be without power for a few days. Because it will be burnt structure and major works need to be done."
Mr Lapsley said burying livestock would be a significant issue in recovery efforts, to ensure it was done properly and would not affect water tables.
He said there had been minor injuries reported but no deaths, no missing people and no major injuries.
He said that was a good outcome, particularly with a fire running fast at night.
The Princes Highway had been reopened but there are still road closures in the area.
The train line between Geelong and Warrnambool also remains closed.