A bushfire warning in the Cann River of eastern Victoria has been downgraded, but residents, especially those in Lower Tonghi, are still being warned to be ready to enact their bushfire plans.
Earlier the Country Fire Authority warned the fire was out of control and fast moving, but firefighters say the 60 hectare blaze is now under control and moving more slowly.
The Princes Highway was closed for a time, but has now reopened.
Code Red criticism
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Meanwhile, rural residents facing catastrophic fire conditions in Victoria's north have headed for larger towns to stay safe.
Code red fire conditions were declared in Victoria's northeast and northern country fire regions on Tuesday, but, despite little fire activity, authorities are unapologetic.
Temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius, winds gusting to nearly 70 km/h and single-figure humidity made for dangerous fire weather.
Despite some criticism that code red warnings were issued too readily, Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin defended the catastrophic warnings, which have been issued for the first time this week since being introduced following the February 7 fires which killed 173 people last year.
"People said the warnings weren't necessary on the sixth of February too and those warnings were very necessary," he said.
"We are unapologetically looking after human life here."
NSW temperatures drop
After a day of catastrophic fire risk in parts of New South Wales, temperatures are forecast to drop, bringing an end to the state's fire bans until at least the weekend.
Temperatures in southern New South Wales at Albury peaked at 42 degrees today, with nine per cent humidity and westerly winds.
Meanwhile, Blue Mountains state MP and former RFS commissioner Phil Koperberg says the new fire danger rating of 'catastrophic' is inappropriate.
The top level warning in the national fire ratings system was introduced in response to Victoria's Black Saturday bushfires which killed 173 people.
Find out the latest from the Rural Fire Service.
