It's not yet known how many homes have been destroyed in the out-of-control blaze in South Australia.
One home has been lost in Moyston at the foothills of the Grampians in western Victoria after crews contained the bushfire and downgraded an emergency fire warning to a watch and act message.
Firefighters are preparing for extreme conditions across Victoria, with one home already lost, as a grass fire threatened towns at the foothills of the Grampians.
John Maguire, from the Horsham Control Centre in Victoria, said residents should go to a local football ground for safety.
"We have set up a relief centre down in Lake Bolac, and we will be requesting that the residents of Maroona consider leaving Maroona and moving down to Lake Bolac to take refuge at the relief centre at the Lake Bolac football ground," Mr Maguire told Fairfax Radio on Saturday.
The Moyston fire destroyed 4714ha on Friday, including one home, four sheds and an unknown amount of livestock.
Firefighters had stopped the head of the grass fire in the Moyston area on Friday night, but crews still battled the blaze in blustery conditions, which were expected to last until 6am on Saturday.
The emergency fire warning was downgraded to a watch and act message on Friday night, but Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley warned conditions could change quickly.
Victoria has an extreme fire danger rating, with the high temperatures in the west and with winds expected to be gusting up to 90km/h.
Those living in fire danger areas should plan to leave early and those with elderly or sick relatives are asked to ensure they stay hydrated.
In South Australia, the out-of-control Sampson Flat fire burned an unknown number of homes overnight with firefighters expecting a strong wind to accelerate the fire on Saturday morning.
"But it will be more than five" - the number of properties already reported lost on Friday, Brenton Eden of the Country Fire Service said.
Two of the lost homes belong to firefighters who have been battling the bushfire while another belongs to a police officer also helping in the emergency.
Meanwhile, Mr Eden urged residents in a host of places to find safety now, ahead of an expected deterioration in conditions.
"Winds at the moment are quite benign, so now is the time when people should be packing up their valuables, taking care of their stock and getting out of there.
"Please, heed this warning. We do not want to be reporting that we have lost any lives."
The CFS says a strengthening northerly wind is expected to reach speeds of up to 110km/hr across the fire ground by 10.45am.
"This will cause the fire to burn out of control in a south/south-easterly direction potentially impacting on communities within a southwest to southeast radius of the fire ground," a CFS statement said on Saturday morning.
The CFS has told residents to follow their bushfire survival plans, and leave if the path is clear.
"Take shelter before the fire arrives as radiant heat can kill you well before the flames reach you," the warning said.
"The CFS urges anyone within the Houghton, Inglewood, Paracombe, Gumeracha, Birdwood, Upper and Lower Hermitage, Kersbrook, Lobethal, Lenswood, Castambul, Cherryville, Forest Range, Charleston, Norton Summit, Montacute, Oakbank Balhannah, Uraidla, Piccadilly and Williamstown areas to enact their Bushfire Survival Plan.
"Due to the uncertain nature and impact of the fire behaviour the Adelaide Hills faces today it is imperative that people within these vicinities take appropriate action now."
The CFS also warned that significant smoke and fallen trees could make travel difficult and advised people to not drive into smoke.
In an alert message at 5am (CST) the Country Fire Service said the fire was travelling "in a very erratic manner" towards Golden Grove, Upper Hermitage, Break Neck Hill, Kersbrook Township, One Tree Hill Township and the Little Para Reservoir.
"There is a risk to lives and homes."
It advised that a fire in the Tantanoola and Glencoe area in South Australia's lower southeast region had slowed and the alert had been downgraded to a watch and act, but it could still threaten public safety.
It said residents of the Glencoe, Glencoe West, Tantanoola and Burrungle areas will need to remain vigilant as fire conditions may change due to fluctuating weather conditions.
- Daily Mail
