Power has been restored in Wye River and Separation Creek as an out-of-control bushfire burns deep in Victoria's Otway Ranges.
Power was cut in the area on Thursday morning after debris from the Christmas Day fires started a pole fire.
The 2500-hectare Wye River-Jamieson Track bushfire destroyed 116 homes in the two small towns and closed the Great Ocean Road for more than 10 days at the height of the holiday season.
Powercor spokeswoman Avi Tan said the pole fire, in Wye River, was started by debris kicked up from rain overnight.
Wye River incident control spokesman Angus Mair said more than 300 firefighters, including 23 dense forest fire specialists from New Zealand, are battling the fire, which is burning in thick bush.
Mr Mair said some firefighters on the ground would walk for kilometres with heavy supply packs through rough terrain to extinguish hot spots in the bush after they were detected by aerial sensors.
"It's that inaccessible, that's the only way it can be done," he told AAP.
On Thursday crews were focusing on cutting down and extinguishing burning hollow trees ahead of the fire front, he said.
The Great Ocean Road re-opened fully on Wednesday, offering business owners and tourism operators some relief.
Residents who are returning to inspect their properties must first register with council and collect a recovery kit, and are then escorted to their home.
Those whose properties are in a risk area are only allowed inside for one hour, with supervision.
Temperatures on Sunday and Monday are expected to reach 27C, pushing the fire danger rating to high, but with high humidity and low winds, the fire will remain manageable, Mr Mair said.
Crews expect to get the fire under control by the end of January.
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