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Concerned about family or friends? 1800 727 077

The number of dead is rising as police access devastated areas.

Victoria Police have confirmed that 33 people died in Kinglake, nine were killed in Kinglake West and seven died in Strathewen.

Six people were killed in St Andrews, 12 in Marysville, eight in Narbethong and three in Taggerty.

Seven were killed in Steeles Creek, two in Mudegegonga, one in Yarra Glen and four in Koornalla.

In Hazeldene two people were killed and three perished in nearby Flowerdale.

In Gippsland, nine people were killed in Callignee and one person died in Upper Callignee.

Four perished in Hazelwood and one died in Jeeralang.

Four died in Wandong, one in Arthurs Creek, one in Eaglehawk and four in Humevale.

Six people died in unspecified locations.

Firefighters have worked through the night to battle dozens of fires that continue to burn across the state.

Twenty people are being treated for serious burns at The Alfred hospital. Ten of those are in a critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit, spokesman John Heselez said.

"There were three who we were very concerned about, but they made it through the night,'' he said.

It is believed half the burns victims are from Whittlesea.

Mr Russell said conditions this morning had improved from the weekend with a cooler change coming through with moist air.

A southerly wind is pushing fires in a north to northeasterly direction.

"Our biggest concern at the moment is around Beechworth,'' Mr Russell said.

Communities around the town of Yackandandah in Victoria's north-east are under immediate threat today after fires jumped the Kiawa river and Yackandandah Road.

The fire has skirted Beechworth and is heading towards Yackandandah.

"There are seven or eight small settlements in the path of this fire and those residents have been urged to get their fire plans underway,'' Mr Russell said.

There were 31 active fires across the state as of 5.30am on Monday, the DSE and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) said.

At least 750 homes have been destroyed and more than 330,000 hectares burnt out, while authorities said some fires could take weeks to contain.

The latest death toll, announced by the DSE at 6am this morning, surpasses the toll from the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, in which 75 people died in Victoria and South Australia, and the Black Friday bushfires of 1939, which killed 71.

The Murrindindi Mill fire has so far burned up to 93,000ha and is still burning in a northeasterly direction.

Firefighters are working hard to construct and consolidate containment lines around the west side of Black Range back to the original fire source, the statement said.

Strike teams are also working between Buxton, Marysville and Narbethong to clear access along roadsides into properties.

The DSE and CFA said the spread of fire in the Bunyip Ridge area has been halted, but authorities warned that there may still be increased amounts of smoke in the area and local road use could be hazardous.

The Princes Highway has reopened with reduced speed limits.

Fires have also broken out near Noojee, Erica and in Wilsons Promontory National Park and Little Desert National Park but neither fire is threatening communities at this stage, the DSE and CFA said.

Ninety-two firefighters from Tasmania will arrive to help the firefighting effort on Monday morning, in addition to the 150 NSW firefighters currently helping fight the Beechworth fires.

While the weather has cooled across most of Victoria, authorities warn that there remains a very high risk of bushfire.

CFA state duty officer Mark Glover said firefighters were focused on protecting communities and assets as a priority.

"It may not always be possible for fire authorities to give warnings and people need to activate their fire plans early," Mr Glover said on Monday.

DSE state duty officer Graeme Davis urged people to stay away from fire-ravaged areas.

"Residents in fire-affected areas and those planning to visit these regions should stay away until fire agencies advise it's safe to return," Mr Davis said.

He said a number of roads had been closed as a safety precaution to protect people from being caught in a bushfire.

Mr Davis said there were smoky conditions in a number of areas and people with lung or heart conditions, the elderly and children who are in areas affected by smoke should take their medication, limit physical activity and reduce time spent outdoors.

Emergency relief centres are operating in a number of locations.

Nearly 40 schools in West Gippsland, central and South Gippsland are closed due to fire.

People wanting information on the Victorian fires and general fire safety can contact the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on freecall 1800 240 667.

Anyone concerned about family and friends in the fire areas are advised to call the National Registry Inquiry Service on 1800 727 077.