Several states have been put on high alert for bushfires and possible evacuations as more than 40,000 hectares continues to burn through Victoria.
Millions of residents and travellers in large parts of Victoria, South , NSW and Western have been warned they could face fires this week.
Hot, dry and windy conditions are expected to worsen rapidly changing conditions from Monday, posing a high risk to those travelling for Christmas.
Several states entered Monday battling dangerous blazes or warning of potential outbreaks, including NSW where hot, dry and windy conditions pose an extreme fire danger in the Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney, Northern Slopes and North Western regions.
More than 41,000 hectares have been torched in the Grampians, 270km west of Melbourne, with a cool change and rain in the city doing little to help firefighters.
The fire grew to over 41,000ha overnight and continued to push north.
People in areas surrounding this fire are being asked to monitor conditions and be ready to act. Locals have been told if they have left the Halls Gap area, it is not safe to return.
On Monday, temperatures in the Victorian capital will peak at a cool 18C on Monday, with further showers expected.
Watch and act alerts remain in place for fires in Grampians National Park and some residents have been told to prepare to leave if the situation worsens.
Meanwhile, another blaze in Bullengarook, northwest of Melbourne, continues to burn out of control.
Victorian authorities are eyeing sweltering conditions of around 40C expected in the region on Boxing Day, amid fears private property could be impacted.
Interstate fire crews from NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and WA will arrive later in the week, the state’s Country Fire Authority has confirmed.
The extra help will be some relief to hundreds of firefighters, including volunteers, who’ve faced incredibly harsh conditions since the blazes were ignited last week.
‘With over 600 firefighters working on the fireground to get the high-energy blaze under control, it’s important to acknowledge the incredible work that has been done to date and the work still to come as crews work round the clock in the coming days,’ VicEmergency shared on Monday.
‘To the communities impacted by these fires, thank you for continuing to stay informed and taking action when needed. We know for many, this is not the first time fire has affected you and understand the ongoing impacts these events can have.
‘As fires continue to burn in the lead up to Christmas Day, we’d like to thank our emergency services personnel for sacrificing time away from family and friends to protect others within the community.’
Even while fighting to save lives, homes and communities, several firefighters have helped rescue affected wildlife from the bushfires.
With Boxing Day usually a big travel day across the state, the fire authority is urging residents to download the VicEmergency app before they leave.
Halls Gap Hotel, in the Grampians’ biggest tourist town, has shut its doors and tourism providers in the area say they face losing $1.9 million a day in bookings because of the emergency as residents fled to Ararat.
‘With 39C days on Xmas and Boxing Day, we’ve cancelled our family Xmas here this year,’ Moyston resident Maxine Windram said on social media.
Elsewhere, regional areas in South are also expecting hot conditions on Boxing Day, with Adelaide facing a peak of 36C after a predicted 37C on Christmas Day.
In Western , firefighters were mopping up a blaze on Sunday that had threatened life and property on Perth’s northern outskirts.
The fast-moving fire at Two Rocks forced evacuation warnings on Sunday afternoon but was later brought under control.
High fire danger is again forecast for the region on Monday while extreme risk is predicted in inland parts of WA’s midwest and southwest.