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Volunteers with the Country Fire Authority who put their lives at risk and battled raging bushfires in Victoria's south-east have hit back after residents complained they didn't do a good enough job at saving their properties.

More than 2,000 firefighters from across Victoria worked during the week to battle the out-of-control wildfires that obliterated the entire town of Tonimbuk, 70km south-east of Melbourne.

Furious residents have slammed fire authorities and claim they didn't do enough to protect their homes after at least 11 properties were destroyed - nine in Bunyip and two in Yinnar - with many more expected as residents are slowly allowed back into some parts of the fire-affected areas.

Volunteers with the Country Fire Authority who put their lives at risk and battled raging bushfires in Victoria's south-east have hit back after residents complained they didn't do a good enough job at saving their properties

More than 2,000 firefighters were fielded across Victoria during the week to battle the out-of-control wildfires that obliterated the entire town of Tonimbuk, 70km south-east of Melbourne

Furious residents have slammed fire authorities and claim they didn't do enough to protect their homes after at least 11 properties were destroyed

Those that were there fighting the horrific blazes over the weekend have started speaking up in defence, saying they risked their lives to help and were trapped by fires for 14 hours

Rex Newtown, 70, who lost his Bunyip home in the blaze, claims there were no firefighters around to help him defend his property.

'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.'

Now, those who were there fighting the horrific blazes over the weekend have started speaking up in defence, saying they risked their lives and had been trapped by fires for 14 hours.

Leader of Strike team 0825, Lee Bostock, said his team worked as hard as they could to save seven properties, and was extremely apologetic they couldn't save more.

'We were deployed to go up and around the winery that was burnt to the ground when we got to the corner of Tonimbuk and Jolley Ed part of the fire front had jumped the road so it was too dangerous for us to continue,' Mr Bostock posted to Facebook.

'In all we did save seven properties, lost 10 sheds. One property was worth $1.7 million they also had three antique cars which were brought out of the sheds and put near the trucks for protection.' 

He explained he and his crew had fought the out-of-control blaze for 14 hours as they were closed off from the rest of the world. 

'We were shut off from the rest of the world, we were encircled by fire for 14 hours. They fought this fire and numerous outbreaks without rest,'  Mr Bostock said.

Leader of Strike team 0825, Lee Bostock, said his team worked as hard as they could to save seven properties, and was extremely apologetic they couldn't save more

Lee explained that he and his crew fought the out-of-control blaze for 14 hours as they were closed off from the rest of the world

Mr Bostock and his team had to wait until Forest Management were able to get bulldozers through the fallen trees before they could be escorted away from the area

Incredible images from inside the enclosing fire show what thousands of firefighters had to endure

'They went above and beyond to save these people's properties and that's what we did. We were unable to get out of here until midnight as trees littered Tonimbuk road and were still coming down.' 

The team requested back-up from two other strike teams but as the fire was so intense, they couldn't find their way through to Mr Bostock.

'The fire was that intense they could not get up the road so we were left to our own devices for 17 hours,' he said. 

Mr Bostock and his team had to wait until Forest Management were able to get bulldozers through the fallen trees before they could be escorted away from the area.

Scott de Little was on strike team 0825 and says the fire surrounded the group in less than five minutes.

'I was the crew leader of the Warneet/Blind Bight tanker and we were tasked to this property because it was under immediate threat and the owners decided to stay and defend their property,' Mr de Little wrote on Facebook.

The crew had to drive through the fire to reach the house and its owners, and says their work saved the lives of the owners and their home.

Scott de Little was on strike team 0825 and says the fire surrounded the group in less than five minutes

The crew had to drive through the fire to reach a house and its owners, and says their work saved the lives of the owners and their home

'We were shut off from the rest of the world, we were encircled by fire for 14 hours. They fought this fire and numerous outbreaks without rest,' Lee Bostock said

'To say this was one of the proudest moments of my career in the CFA is a understatement. But for the media to broadcast only one side of the story is so unfair!' Mr de Little said.

Andrew Harro Harris wasn't on the same team but witnessed the fires close in on strike team 0825 as he withdrew back away from the circle of flames.

'For ST0825 it's too late - the fire is upon them and they prepare to make a stand around the defendable houses they can manage. There they remain for the next 12+hrs,' Mr Harris wrote in an account of the day.

He and his team noticed a large spot fire two farmers were attempting to put out themselves and go to aid them, before they too became blocked in by the enclosing wildfires.

'The fire has now crossed Ellis Rd at various locations including within 50 metres of the assets we are protecting we too are now blocked in with no way out,' Mr Harris said.

'When the fire came through the crews did an amazing job protecting the properties and especially the hay shed.'

Despite losing homes and live stock during the fires, Mr Harris praised all the firefighters he worked with as the out-of-control bushfires ravaged the state. 

The out-of-control wildfires have been ravaging south-eastern Victoria since they were sparked by lightning on Friday night

More than 2,000 firefighters have been working tirelessly over the weekend and throughout the week to save homes and lives

'I have nothing but praise for the crews I managed and worked along side, the professionalism, compassion and support they provided both me and the local community was second to none,' Mr Harris wrote.  

'It's very heart breaking seeing property and live stock losses which unfortunately comes with the role as a firefighter.

'I am proud to be a CFA volunteer and proud of all the crews and their dedication.

'We all answered the call in a time of need, we worked our arses off in extremely trying and dangerous times to save a strangers life, property or live stock and we all went home safe.'

Pete Ryan was a firefighter on strike team 1334 in Yinnar and also came to the defence of the CFA online, saying the accusations that they were responsible for the loss of houses was a 'massive kick in the guts'.

'I participated in one of the most massive efforts I've seen in over 20yrs of firefighting,' Mr Ryan said.

'This fire is tricky, make no mistake of that. The terrain is over 30 degrees steep and the fire at the bottom of a valley over 200m down. If you fell over it would not be good for you.

'This finger of the fire threatens about 5 houses in the immediate area (within 200m) and potentially, if it got away the township of Yinnar.'

Along with Forest Management crew, Mr Ryan and his team worked for two days on the section of fire and managed to round it up and contain it.

This monstrous task required his team to cut up and put out a hollow and burning dead tree, which was highly difficult and extremely dangerous.

While it's confirmed 11 properties have been destroyed, more damage is expected to be discovered as residents are slowly allowed back in to some parts of the fire-affected areas

Pete Ryan was a firefighter on strike team 1334 in Yinnar and also came to the defence of the CFA online, saying the accusations that they were responsible for the loss of houses was a 'massive kick in the guts'

Along with Forest Management crew, Mr Ryan and his team worked for two days on the section of fire and managed to round it up and contain it

'I participated in one of the most massive efforts I've seen in over 20yrs of firefighting,' Pete Ryan said

Volunteers with Country Fire Authority who battled raging bushfires have hit back after residents complained they didn't do anything to save their homes

'The 60-year-old Forestry management bloke was one month from his retirement!,' Mr Ryan said.  

'Falling rocks, slipping hazzard, falling trees were all real during our efforts. Groups of four at a time going over the edge and coming back to the top completely exhausted.

'We succeeded in knocking it down and achieving the task. Everyone of us knew the meaning for the residents.

'So I'll let you be the judge of the efforts of the CFA?'

Mark Kennedy was also directly involved in the Bunyip fire and says he is 'bitterly disappointed the events were being used for political purposes'. 

While he's proud of the efforts that were made by thousands of firefighters, he's also devastated some people don't have a home to go back to. 

'There are some incredible stories about what our crews did and the frustration they dealt with when unable to get to some places due to the fire activity,' Mr Kennedy said.

'For anyone to suggest our crews did not do their best is disgusting.

Incredible images from inside the raging wildfire show what thousands of firefighters battled over the weekend and through the week

Mark Kennedy was also directly involved in the Bunyip fire and says he is 'bitterly disappointed the events were being used for political purposes'

While Mark Kennedy is proud of the efforts that were made by thousands of firefighters, he's also devastated some people don't have a home to go back to

The monstrous task required a team to cut up and put out a hollow and burning dead tree, which was highly difficult and extremely dangerous

'Whilst I completely feel for the impacted residents, complaining that they didn't get a fire truck this time when they did in 2009 is not helpful. [That] was a completely different scenario. The fire moved in a different direction and impacted different parts of the community. Things were different because it was a different fire.'

While some residents have been able to return to their homes and assess the damage, many firefighters are still battling active fires in Bunyip state park.

As of Thursday evening, a Watch and Act warning remained in place for Beenak, Gentle Annie, Whites Corner,  Bunyip North, Cornucopia, Garfield North, Labertouche, Tonimbuk. 

'There is a bushfire at the Bunyip State Park that is not yet under control. Conditions may change and get worse very quickly,' a warning on Vic Emergency read.

Already tens of thousands of hectares of land have been destroyed and scores of houses razed to the ground as at least 12 active fires continue to burn. 

While it's confirmed 11 properties have been destroyed, more damage is expected to be discovered as residents are slowly allowed back in to some parts of the fire-affected areas. 

As of Thursday evening, a Watch and Act warning remained in place for Beenak, Gentle Annie, Whites Corner, Bunyip North, Cornucopia, Garfield North, Labertouche, Tonimbuk

While some residents have been able to return to their homes and assess the damage, many firefighters are still battling active fires in Bunyip state park

Already tens of thousands of hectares of land have been destroyed and scores of houses razed to the ground as at least 12 active fires continue to burn