Residents from bushfire-affected areas in Melbourne's north have defied police by storming past roadblocks.
A group from Wallan climbed fences to reach their homes in the city's northern fringes, where at least 12 houses were destroyed in one of the worst fires of Victoria's latest bushfire emergency.
The blaze, which began in Mickleham on Sunday, spread over an area of about 50km to Kilmore.
Twenty-year resident Bob Murphett was one local who lost his home.
"Everything's gone apparently," he told the Nine Network.
Those who live in affected areas have been frustrated by roadblocks preventing them from returning to their properties.
"To cut a few posts and move them off the road doesn't take 24 hours," Mr Murphett said.
Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said authorities were doing what they could to ensure the area was safe and protected from looters.
Locals wishing to return to their fire-ravaged communities are being given wrist tags in a bid to limit looting.
Residents from the Kilmore, Wallan and Craigieburn areas can attend relief centres at Romsey, Wallan and Seymour to obtain the tags that identify them as locals.
The plan is part of a management strategy for the area as some roadblocks are lifted.
"It's about ensuring that people do not go into these areas and take the opportunity of somebody's loss to then go through and be a thief in the area," Mr Lapsley said.
"That's a critical issue."
He said Victoria Police, fire authorities and local government were still assessing the safety of roads.
A falling tree limb even hit a fire truck on Monday evening, but no one was injured.
Mr Lapsley said there were concerns beyond weakened trees.
"In fire-affected areas you'll see that white posts on the side of roads are burnt," Mr Lapsley said.
"Signage is burnt, bridges have got damage or part damage to them ... and even to the extent the road surface itself could be damaged.
"It's about safety. Not necessarily the safety of the fire burning, safety of the road user."
Police are also investigating three small fires that started in the Sunbury area on Wednesday.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said it was not known what caused the fires, which are now out.
