Emergency crews will continue impact assessments to affected areas in the Grampians region in Victoria where a blaze with a perimeter of more than 380km and has so far scorched more than 75,000 hectares.
Dry conditions and difficult, mountainous terrain mean the fire is likely to burn into the new year but cooler, settled conditions are providing fire crews the opportunity to try to contain the blaze.
Three homes were confirmed lost in Moyston, a rural farming community on the edge of the Grampians National Park, as of early Saturday evening.
Another 11 outbuildings were also destroyed by the fire across Moyston and Pomonal, which was devastated by fire earlier in 2024.
State Control Centre spokesman Luke Hegarty said there was still a lot of work to be done to confirm the fire's damage.
"These numbers will continue to evolve over the next couple of days," Mr Hegarty said.
There have been significant livestock losses, particularly sheep.
Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said the week ahead would bring more favourable conditions for fire crews.
"Weather over the next week looks relatively stable," he said in a statement late on Saturday afternoon.
The coming week will bring more favourable condition for fire crews, Victorian authorities say. (HANDOUT/STATE CONTROL CENTRE)
"This will allow us time to stabilise the fires and continue backburning operations, and look to support the community further."
Three watch and act alerts remained in place in and around western Victoria's Grampians National Park as night fell on Saturday, with the area from Long Gully Road to College Road remaining safe.
Residents from Halls Gap have also been allowed to return home.
Conditions in western Victoria are expected to remain mild until Sunday before westerly winds give way to warmer northerlies on Monday.
Hardship payments have become available for people with homes in evacuation areas or who have suffered property damage, via the state and federal-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Federal Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister said the assistance included a one-off payment of $680 per adult and $340 per child up to a maximum of $2380 per eligible family to help cover essentials such as food, clothing, medication and accommodation.
As fire crews in Victoria enjoy the cool change, a total fire ban was issued for NSW's northern slopes region as dry conditions, gusty winds and temperatures into the high 30s descended on Tamworth, Inverell and the Liverpool Plains.
As of 5pm today 28 December, there are currently 63 bush and grass fires across the state, with 10 not yet contained. No Total Fire Ban will be in place tomorrow, however some areas will be under High fire danger. More information at the — NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) #RFS website: https://t.co/Zw4A515sBl pic.twitter.com/bej00ooixMDecember 28, 2024
No total fire bans are in place in NSW on Sunday but high fire danger remains for the Northern Slopes, North Western, Upper Central West Plains, Greater Hunter and Sydney regions.
"We do have heatwave conditions continuing, and warnings current for northeastern parts of NSW and much of Queensland," weather bureau meteorologist Sarah Scully said.
A number of fires are burning or have recently been contained in NSW.
On the other side of the nation, residents were urged to leave their homes on Saturday as an out-of-control bushfire raged in Western Australia's Mid West region amid hot and windy conditions.
28°C