MELBOURNE - Rain and milder temperatures have eased the bushfire threat in Victoria's northeast, but authorities warn it will be a long time before the flames are out.
"Even with the change coming through and cooler conditions for the next four or five days, these fires are goingto continue way beyond that and local residents need to be prepared for the long haul," CFA state duty officer Gary Weir said.
Between 5mm and 10mm of rain fell across much of the fire-ravaged region last night, reducing the immediate threat to the Mansfield and Ovens areas and around Mt Buller where a blaze raged earlier in the night.
Authorities at the individual fire fronts will decide this morning how many of the 3000 firefighters on patrol can go home for Christmas.
A crew of New Zealand firefighters will fly home to Auckland and Christchurch today.
All but one of the 47-strong crew will head home this morning, leaving behind a mate who is still receiving treatment for smoke inhalation and burns. He's expected to go home on Wednesday.
A crew of 36 firefighter from the ACT will also go home today.
About one third to half of the remaining fire fighters will be flown or bussed home for Christmas, but they are expected to be recalled when the rain has stopped long enough to allow a planned back burn along the major fire's southern front.
The back burn across a stretch of rugged, inaccessible bushland will join the major blaze with the smaller deliberately lit Coopers Creek fire in the northern Gippsland area, Mr Weir said.
The larger fire will be more easily managed.
This morning fire had burnt or was burning on 871,000ha of bushland, the largest stretching across Victorian's northeast to the Gippsland region.
But as of 8am (10am NZT) no populated area was under threat.
"The fire behaviour now is relatively gentle, this rainfall has reduced the level for alert," Mr Weir said.
