Victorians have been warned the death toll from the weekend's bushfire disaster could top 300 as firefighters struggle tonight to prevent two major fire fronts from merging together.
The toll from Australia's worst natural disaster stands at 181 but Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon today warned it could rise significantly as authorities accessed fire-ravaged areas.
"I'm not prepared to say 300 (victims) but the people from the coroner's office have prepared for that many," Ms Nixon told a press conference at Whittlesea.
Fire crews are now scrambling to keep separate two major fire fronts in the state's east after lightning sparked several smaller blazes between them.
Country Fire Authority operations manager David Harrisson said this afternoon a 220,000-hectare blaze stretching from Kilmore to Marysville and Healesville was at risk of merging with a 25,000-hectare fire at Bunyip Ridge.
Only 18 kilometres separated the fires and crews would be up against high temperatures and gusty winds predicted over the next week, Mr Harrisson said.
"We have to be realistic that with the forecast weather for the weekend and particularly into Tuesday and Wednesday of next week ... these fires certainly have the potential to join up," he said.
"We'll be making all efforts to make sure that doesn't happen at all."
Police are investigating claims of arson and looting as strong southerly winds continue to fuel 25 blazes in Victoria.
Authorities warn it could be more than a week before the fires are brought under control.
Victorian Premier John Brumby said words escaped him when describing people who deliberately light fires.
He said there was little doubt that arsonists were responsible for several overnight fires near the township of Stanley, not far from the Beechworth blaze in the state's north.
The small fires were quickly extinguished and it's believed police have a description of a car used by the suspects.
Mr Brumby said anyone who sees suspicious behaviour should call police immediately.
Urgent threats remained current tonight for communities near the Yea/Murrindindi fire.
The CFA issued urgent alerts for the communities of Acheron, Cathedral Lane, Rubicon, Thornton-Taggerty Road, Bulls Lane, Connellys Creek, Crystal Creek, Scrubby Creek and Native Dog Creek as fire activity increases in the Yea-Murrindindi area.
Residents are warned they may be directly impacted by the blaze.
The CFA said fire on the north-east front in the Blue Range was experiencing continuing fire activity because of the south-easterlies. There was also increased activity towards the northern end of the Black Range.
Control
Crews have been working overnight to establish control lines along the Whanregarwen Road from the Maroondah Highway to Molesworth.
The fire is now burning in a north-easterly direction and covers about 100,000 hectares.
An urgent threat was issued at 5pm for Mansfield, which was being threatened by a grass fire 20 kilometres south-east of the township near Rifle Butts Road.
All Victorians have been warned to remain on alert for increased fire activity today despite calmer weather conditions overnight.
Increasing southerly winds up to 45kmh are expected to pose a problem for firefighters after crews spent the night working to establish control lines at 25 fires burning out of control in the state.
CFA spokesman Darren Grevis-James said calm conditions overnight were "very, very helpful" but the fire threat was not over.
CFA operations said the fires were likely to last "a week or so" under current conditions but the outcome would depend on the combination of temperature, winds and humidity.
"If you get the wrong mix, that's when you've got critical fire conditions," Mr Grevis-James said.
- with Larissa Ham, AAP