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Furious residents have slammed fire authorities and claimed they didn't do enough to protect their homes as bushfires continue to ravage parts of Victoria.

More than 2,000 firefighters were fielded across south-eastern Victoria to battle the fast-moving blazes on Monday.

Already thousands of hectares of land have been destroyed and scores of houses razed to the ground as 19 active bushfires continue to burn.

At least 11 properties have been destroyed - nine in Bunyip and two in Yinnar - with many more expected as residents are slowly allowed back in some parts of the fire-affected areas. 

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Furious residents have slammed fire authorities and claimed they didn't do enough to protect their homes as bushfires continue to burn in parts of Victoria (pictured, Rex Newtown of Tonimbuk, a remote town southeast of Melbourne)

'That's the roof,' Mr Newtown says, holding a jagged piece of steel (pictured)

Other residents have claimed more could have been done in the lead-up to the fire season to better protect homes (spotfire on the Bunyip side of the Princes Highway in Victoria)

Rex Newtown was one person who lost his property at Tonimbuk, a remote town south-east of Melbourne.

The 70-year-old had been living in the house for 40 years. Though all those decades went up in flames in a matter of hours.

In a video uploaded to Twitter, Mr Newtown - covered in black ash - assessed the damage.

'That's the roof,' he said, holding a jagged piece of steel. 'That was the roof of the house. It melted. That is hot.'

As Mr Newtown and other residents lament the damage, they have aimed criticism at fire authorities for not doing enough.

'I got to the corner and the fire brigade [were] all sitting up on the corner - not one truck attended,' Mr Newton told 9News.

'There was trucks sitting 450 metres away from my place doing nothing. That was all they did, was nothing.'

'They didn't come in, they did not one thing. They came in yesterday putting out spot fires which you could put out with a cup of tea.'

'It's all unions, and the local chaps that have been fires all their life around this area weren't allowed to do anything and they were prepared to do things.'

Other residents have claimed more could have been done in the lead-up to the fire season to better protect homes. 

On that matter, they said authorities did not do enough hazard reduction fire burn-offs. 

Andrew Clarke lost his Jinks Winery in the fire at Bunyip Park and he pins the blame on Parks Victoria and Forest Fire Management Victoria.  

'We've had a lot of issues trying to get them to burn off the back of our property, Parks Victoria, because after they had the royal commission one of the biggest recommendations was a lot, a lot, a lot of burning off and they just basically sit on their hands. They haven't done any really in our area,' he said.

Authorities have responded to the concerns of the residents, but said at this stage safety was their top priority.

'I quite well understand some of the community sentiment but the important thing for us, we've still got the potential threat to life, threat to properties and we will stay focused around that,' Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said.

Andrew Clarke (left, with son) lost his Jinks Winery in the fire at Bunyip Park and he pins the blame on Parks Victoria and Forest Fire Management Victoria 

 Despite the criticism, fire authorities have worked hard to bring the fires under control

All emergency warnings have been downgraded to watch-and-act, with six currently in place

'I do understand some of the sentiment, I do know when people are talking about - in particular the Bunyip fire - I know there were planned burns there in 2016 and 2017.' 

A Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVIC) spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia planned burning was just one method used to reduce bushfire risk.

'We are using a risk-reduction target to focus our fuel management strategies on areas that will have the greatest impact.

'This target means we are burning smarter, rather than focusing on a number of hectares target. 

'Under this approach, FFMVIC aims to keep bushfire risk at or below 70 per cent of maximum levels across Victoria - which significantly reduces the risk of a major fire and the impact that would have on people, property and the environment. 

'In some areas, this may mean less planned burns – in other areas it may mean more – but communities can be assured that our activities are focused on making them safer and protecting their local environment.'

Despite the criticism, fire authorities have worked hard to bring the fires under control.

All emergency warnings have been downgraded to watch-and-act, with six currently in place. 

The Princes Freeway has reopened with residents allowed to get through to fire-ravaged areas near Bunyip State Park.

Though some local roads remain closed, such as Bessie Creek and Fogarty roads. 

Fire authorities count as many as 11 lightning strikes overnight sparked numerous spotfires throughout the Gippsland area.

Though these were in unpopulated areas and quickly brought under control. 

A watch and alert remains in place for three fires near Dargo in the state's east. 

Two blazes north-west of Dargo continue to move towards each other.

Two watch and act alerts remain in place for a 17,000 hectare fire east of Licola. 

Fire breaks are currently being built around private properties in a bid to protect them from the raging blaze.

Communities around Valencia Creek, south-east of the fire near Licola are on high alert.

Fire authorities count as many as 11 lightning strikes overnight sparked numerous spotfires throughout the Gippsland area

 A watch and alert remains in place for three fires near Dargo in the state's east

The Bunyip State Park continues to burn out of control with two watch and act alerts imposed in the area

Warnings are in place for surrounding areas like Blore, Boisdale, Briagolong, Bulldog Junction, Bushy Park, Cobbannah, Culloden, Gillum, Glenfalloch, Glenmaggie, Huggett, Koorool, Maffra West Upper, Monomak, Moornapa, Morgan, Nap Nap Marra, Newry, Stockdale, Toolome, Valencia Creek, Woolenook, Worrowing, Wrathung and Wrixon. 

The Bunyip State Park continues to burn out of control with two watch and act alerts imposed in the area.

Warning alerts have been issued for the suburbs of Basan Corner, Cornucopia, Garfield North, Gentle Annie, Labertouche, Longwarry North, Maryknoll, Nar Nar Goon North, Tonimbuk and Tynong North.

Some roads remain closed such as Sand road, Ole Sale Road, Princes Way and Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road. 

On Saturday night, Country Fire Authority Assistant Chief Officer Trevor Owen said the fire at Bunyip was more dangerous than 2009's Black Saturday bushfires, which killed 173 people and also started from a lightning strike.

Warning alerts have been issued for the suburbs of Basan Corner, Cornucopia, Garfield North, Gentle Annie, Labertouche, Longwarry North, Maryknoll, Nar Nar Goon North, Tonimbuk and Tynong North

On Saturday night, Country Fire Authority Assistant Chief Officer Trevor Owen said the fire at Bunyip was more dangerous than 2009's Black Saturday bushfires, which killed 173 people and also started from a lightning strike

'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,' he said.

'Under those very strong conditions experienced on that day (in 2009), it travelled neatly, whilst it damaged some property it was a very narrow finger compared to what we're facing with this fire, because this fire has been growing.'

A separate fire is burning at nearby Gembrook State Park Whites Corner, though has been kept within containment lines. 

A Watch and Act warning has been issued for Budgeree East, Jeeralang Junction, Jumbuk, Yinnar South and Jumbuck Road in the vicinity of the Morwell National Park. 

Authorities at Yinnar South in La Trobe Valley continue to battle a fire that has grown to 1,820 hectares.

The eastern and northern areas of the fire are currently active.

Two properties have already been lost and residents have been told evacuation is the safest option. 

A grassfire at Bangholme was brought under control in an hour since it started on Monday. 

Cooler temperatures are expected to bring welcome relief, but a severe thunderstorm warning could bring flash flooding and dry lightning.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for East Gippsland and North East districts on Monday night, and is expected to provide some much-needed relief for firefighters battling the blaze in Dargo.

But those battling the Bunyip fire may not see any relief until early on Wednesday morning, with the cool change predicted to arrive then.

A Watch and Act warning has been issued for Budgeree East, Jeeralang Junction, Jumbuk, Yinnar South and Jumbuck Road in the vicinity of the Morwell National Park

Authorities at Yinnar South in La Trobe Valley continue to battle a fire that has grown to 1,820 hectares