A bushfire that burned within 5km of the historic tourist town of Daylesford in central Victoria is being treated as suspicious.
Fire crews are working to contain blazes in Melbourne's outer east and south of Daylesford before warmer weather and a shift in wind direction arrive on Friday.
Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin said more threats and difficult work was ahead, and warned ''the events of Black Saturday are not over''.
Temperatures are expected to reach the high 30s on Friday, and while crews are trying to take advantage of the cool conditions until then, there is no immediate forecast for rain.
The worst of the Victorian bushfires that killed at least 210 people are largely within containment lines and final alerts are being issued, however, new threats are circling.
The fires of February 7 have also destroyed 2029 homes and more than $775 million worth of insurance claims have been lodged from the 78 affected towns.
Firefighters from across Australia, New Zealand and Canada are working on about 1000km of fire edge.
The Daylesford Town Hall was turned into a relief centre yesterday where residents from nearby towns fled after the fire closed in from the south on Monday night. The town was on edge after the destruction in the rest of the state, and smoke hovered on the horizon to add to the nerves.
Wheelers Hill resident Theo Kroeger fled about 7pm on Monday after the shed across the road exploded and his irrigator was damaged.
''The shed went up in a heap of flames, I just left,'' he said.
''It went off like a bomb.''
Mr Kroeger, a former Country Fire Authority volunteer for more than 30 years, had planned for the fires to come from the north and was prepared to defend his house.
However, the fire raced uphill from the south and between his early efforts and those of the CFA his house was saved.
''They have done a terrific job,'' he said. ''I was lucky to get away with the house. They really put their life in their own hands.''
Neighbour Geoff Jenkin had bore water, sprinklers and his son-in-law on the roof to help fend off the embers as the 2800ha fire swept around the house, leaving a ring of green between the burned land.
Mr Jenkin, a former CFA captain, said about half his 300ha property had been burned, but all his family and sheep had survived.
''It was terrible, the shed up there just exploded and all of a sudden embers were landing in the back yard,'' he said.
''You can't have any trees around you if want to save your house.''
Detective Sergeant Tony Coxall told ABC Radio that investigators had been examining a suspicious area about 3m off the Ballan-Daylesford Road to determine whether it was deliberately lit.
The Federal Government has announced it will provide an extra $7.5 million for mental health support and counselling for bushfire victims.
Premier John Brumby said the state's resolve was being tested and the events of Saturday, February 7, would leave an indelible stamp on all Australians.
''And we will always remember the Victorians who lost their lives on February 7,'' he said.
''I am sure I speak for all Members when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with all those Victorians whose lives have been scarred by this tragic event.''
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