Six-hundred-and-fifty firefighters have been battling bushfires in the East Gippsland region, with emergency warnings placed for towns surrounding Bairnsdale.
At the time of going to print yesterday, a leave immediately warning was in place for Fernbank, Glenaladale, Iguana Creek, Lindenow South, Stockdale, Stratford, Walpa and Woodglen.
There were warnings in place to take shelter for Seacombe, Loch Sport, Culloden, Moornapa,  Woolenook, Briagolong and Cobbannah.
On Monday, the Briagolong fire had burned more than 5000 hectares, before tripling in size to 17,000 hectares overnight, threatening small communities and blocking numerous roads, with the Princes Highway among those under threat due to the fast-moving nature of the fire.
Wind gusts in excess of 70kmh made it difficult for firefighters to contain the blaze.
One property has been lost, meanwhile local schools, including Briagolong Primary School, Lindenow Primary School, St Patricks Primary School in Stratford,  Loch Sport Primary School, Lindenow South Primary School and Bairnsdale Christian College closed for the day.

IMAGE: At the time of going to print, numerous warnings are in place for towns surrounding Bairnsdale, including Briagolong, Lindenow South, Glenaladale and Loch Sport. Six-hundred-andfifty firefighters have been battling the fires, with hopes of oncoming rain serving to extinguish the blazes.