Homes are under threat from the Lancefield bushfire which has merged with several spot fires and is burning uncontrolled on several fronts.
Strike teams of firefighters are protecting homes in the area of Benloch, a gully surrounded by bush just outside of Lancefield, where the fire is burning in rugged terrain.
The blaze is being fanned by erratic winds which have strengthened through the day.
"With the changing winds we're having erratic fire behaviour," Ian Hay, CFA Northern Section Commander told reporters.
"We're having ember attacks currently on homes in sections of the fire grounds and we've got fire spreading from the north."
Mr Hay said in some areas spot fires had met the main front, or green grass paddocks, and the fire was burning out.
"We're lucky in some parts that is happening and it is going out, but to the north it is all fresh ground," Mr Hay said.
"The fire behaviour is exceptional for this time of year - I've never seen it like this," he said, noting he'd been a firefighter for 35 years.
Mr Hay said no homes had been lost and it was too early to assess the damage of the blaze.
The fire was triggered by a fuel reduction burn which jumped containment lines.
A town meeting is being held in Lancefield on Tuesday afternoon where officials will have to explain to angry residents how this was allowed to occur.
Fire investigation
Victorians who have lost property thanks to a planned burn that got out of control will find out if they can get state government compensation.
Environment Minister Lisa Neville says the issue will be covered in an independent review into the fire.
"This is all going to be subject to the outcome of the review and as I said today in conversations, I've made sure this is going to be an external review so that people in the community can have confidence," Ms Neville told reporters on Wednesday.
The Cobaw fire started as a Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning controlled burn but jumped containment lines twice before getting out of control on Saturday.
Ms Neville said she wasn't aware of any precedent where a resident had taken on the state government over a planned burn gone wrong.
"There have been very few that have breached to this extent," she said.
The government doesn't expect to be doing much more short-term planned burning as the hot, dry conditions have made it too dangerous.
"There will be still some targeted planned burns if the weather permits in certain areas where we know we continue to still have a high risk. This is a balancing act all the time," Ms Neville said.
"The staff who do these planned burns are very distressed about what's happened here and they want to see this review occur as well."
The details of the review will be announced in the coming days.
