Victorians in regions confronted by massive bushfires are being urged to flee before temperatures spike on Saturday, amid grave fears for 17 missing people.
More than 50 fires were raging across the state on Thursday, with the worst burning predominantly in East Gippsland and the Alpine region.
Residents of those areas have been told they should leave on Friday, before strong winds and temperatures above 40C forecast for some areas on Saturday.
Smoke billowing from a fire burning at East Gippsland, Victoria. Source: AAP
"We have a small window of opportunity," Assistant Emergency Services Commissioner Deb Abbott told reporters on Thursday.
"It's a window of opportunity for those people to leave now and we want them to leave now.
"These fires have already caused significant damage. They have caused significant loss and our community needs to act now."
More than half a million hectares have been burnt in Victoria's destructive East Gippsland fires. Source: AAP
Though Saturday will bring the most bushfire risk, authorities have declared a total fire ban on Friday across East Gippsland and the Wimmera, North East and South West regions.
Temperatures are expected to peak in the high 20s and winds will be light, but that does not rule out more fire danger.
"There can be significant fire activity even when conditions are fairly light in terms of winds," Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Tom Delamotte told AAP.
Fears death toll could rise
The outlook comes as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Thursday there are 17 people missing in East Gippsland, none of whom are emergency services personnel.
Family members had already confirmed Buchan man Mick Roberts had died at his home.
"There are at least 17 people that at this stage we cannot account for. Their whereabouts are unknown to us," Mr Andrews told reporters at Bairnsdale.
"Whilst Victoria Police have not been through the official identification processes, it is clear that the Roberts family have identified Mr Roberts and we send our condolences to their family and the Buchan community to whom he was so well-known and very highly regarded."
Mr Andrews said some of the missing people might be safe.
"But we hold very significant fears for the welfare of anybody who is missing at this time," he said.
Military provides support
The military has arrived to provide relief and resources for fire victims across East Gippsland, as well as evacuating people from Mallacoota.
About 24 communities are isolated and reaching them to deliver supplies has been difficult.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal government was offering any assistance requested.
Property damaged by the East Gippsland fires in Sarsfield, Victoria. Source: AAP
"Our task has been to fully support and provide whatever assistance is necessary through all the various agencies of the Commonwealth," he told reporters in Sydney.
"The provision of disaster payments that have now exceeded some more than $21 million in New South Wales alone and we expect more of that to continue in Victoria as the full devastation of the fires there becomes more evident."
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said it is too early to say what the full financial cost of the fires will be to taxpayers, but stressed that figure is not the government's main focus.
The HMAS Choules departs from a fleet base in Sydney on Wednesday bound for Victoria. Source: AAP
"It's about the human cost of these tragic fires," he told reporters in Melbourne.
He added the prime minister will visit Victoria in coming days.
"It's about the human cost of these tragic fires," he told reporters in Melbourne.
He added the prime minister will visit Victoria in coming days.
So far, confirmed property losses are 24 structures at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and up to 15 at Cudgewa.
Phones remain cut across much of the region and people are struggling to communicate with loved ones and get the latest information on the fire risk.
