Firefighters race clock to contain Vic blazes

Firefighters race clock to contain Vic blazes

Firefighters will use the next 24 hours to strengthen fire breaks around several townships in Victoria's high country, ahead of hot, windy conditions expected tomorrow.

Temperatures in the mid to high 30s and winds from the north are forecast for the fire area, which covers just under 700,000 hectares.

Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesman Stuart Ord says spot fires have caused some problems overnight.

"We've also got some concerns between Falls Creek and Mt Hotham," he said.

"The fire over the last couple of days has spotted into some areas there, so the firefighting resources are trying to jump on that."

Mr Ord says bushfires are burning close to several towns, but made little progress overnight.

"We've had the fire backing down into a number of towns overnight and we've had to keep a very, very close eye on that," he said.

"Some of those places include Walhalla - the fire is coming down a hill towards the town, but very slowly - the Woods Point area and up around Merimbah, Merrijig area."