A Melbourne man says he saw a power pole explode in flames that destroyed at least three homes.
Warrandyte man Robert Evans said he heard a bang about 12.30pm (AEDT) on Sunday and opened the front door to investigate.
"I have seen a little bit of smoke going over the back of my neighbour's house and then the power pole directly above his house exploded," he told AAP.
"Massive bang again, same as the other bang and massive flames and within 30 seconds while we were still standing there, there was flames probably a metre above his roof."
Mr Evans fled the blaze with his family and his house survived.
Amersham Drive resident Brenda Ireland was one of those to lose her home.
Her husband Bob saw smoke and woke her up.
They quickly got in the car and left.
"As we were driving down our driveway, which is about 50m long, a huge ball of flames was just rushing across our backyard," she said.
"Ball of fire.
"We've got wonderful neighbours and they all survived so that is the main thing.
"We can build a new house. So sad."
Nearby resident Jamie Conlon, 18, ran down his long driveway surrounded by flames with no shoes or shirt on as he tried to flee the blaze.
"I just saw the end and that's where I was going," he told AAP.
"I didn't stop to look. I just sprinted.
"I thought I was dead.
"I was just screaming. I was terrified."
The blaze came within centimetres of Mr Conlon's home, but the house survived.
At least three houses in the area have been destroyed.
A State Control Centre spokeswoman said the cause of the blaze was yet to be determined.
Electricity supplier SP AusNet has been contacted for comment.
