Police in Gippsland in eastern Victoria have issued pleas for people not to drive through fire-affected areas today.
People have died in their cars trying to escape the Gippsland fires and there are reports of a busload of Japanese tourists heading towards the Yarra Valley.
Police say they will be blocking people who are driving towards dangerous areas and people could be charged with hindering police if they are caught sightseeing in “stupid” areas.
Victorian Premier John Brumby says the existing threat from the fires remains very real.
“The big thing today is to not just to get on top of the fires that are remaining [but] make sure the message is clear that this is not over,” he said.
“People shouldn’t be out sightseeing for example, there are still very serious fires in many parts of the state.”
Hundreds of people heading back to Melbourne are calling information lines trying find ways to bypass the highway road blocks on the Princes Highway and the South Gippsland Highway.
The Churchill fire is still threatening Traralgon South and is heading in the direction of Carrajung, Won Wron and Woodside near the coast.
It burnt through 90,000 hectares in 18 hours.
The Bunyip fire has turned north today and is heading to Neerim Junction in the direction of Noojee.
The DSE has downgraded the threat of the East Tyers fire to the tiny town of Walhalla, where the handful of residents spent the night in a gold mine.
The threat alert has also been lifted for Erica, Rawson and Parkers Corner.
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