Victoria's Otways bushfire could flare again during hot, dry weather over coming days, potentially putting the small seaside town of Kennett River at risk.
Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley says parts of the already devastated Wye River could also burn again but conditions are not expected to be as bad as on Christmas Day, when 98 homes in the town were destroyed, along with another 18 in Separation Creek.
The blaze came within 500 metres of Kennett River on Christmas Day and the town, which lies near the southern-most part of the fire, will remain off-limits until after the run of hot weather.
Mr Lapsley warned on Tuesday that the fire could run with the northerly wind on to Kennett River.
"This fire that is in the Otways has still got the potential to run," he told reporters in Wye River.
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He said the risk for Wye River had subsided due to the large area already burnt out but a lot of areas could still burn.
Deputy incident controller Ian Beswicke said crews were trying to prepare for the anticipated change in conditions on Thursday, although the bushfire's location in thick, steep forest was making it tough to attack.
"We have lots of personnel out on the fireground but the fire's location is very inaccessible, so it's very slow going for the troops," he told AAP.
"The fire is still outside containment lines."
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described the community's response to the fire as inspiring.
"The houses have been completely wiped out, cars have been completely gutted," Mr Turnbull told reporters after visiting Wye River on Tuesday.
"Nature can be cruel and capricious. You see one house burnt to nothing, burnt to the ground, and next door a house of similar vintage, similar age, appears untouched."
Firefighters working through Christmas night to save homes in Wye River watched their own houses burn down as the 2300-hectare bushfire swirled out of control.
Tony Maley didn't sleep that night as he kept battling the blaze long after his house burned as he protected a caravan park near the beach.
"I saw my house on fire and I watched it burn down," Mr Maley told Mr Turnbull.
CFA firefighter Elliot Walton has lived in Wye River since he was 14 and told Mr Turnbull he would definitely rebuild after losing his home.
"It's a pretty bad place for fires but we all love it, so there's no way we won't rebuild," he said.
Mr Turnbull said people who lost everything displayed incredible optimism.
"There's a real triumph in the way this community has managed this natural disaster, which has a force and power beyond human control," he said.
The temperature on the Surf Coast is expected to rise from 32 degrees on Wednesday to 40 on Thursday, before easing to 27 - compared to an earlier forecast of 35 - on New Year's Day.
Mr Lapsley said while there had been some rain, the next few days of hot weather would quickly dry that out.
Authorities hope to reopen the Great Ocean Road to the public after the New Year to get the tourist spots back up and running.
Residents only will be allowed back to Wye River and Separation Creek by Thursday.
