Fire crews in western Victoria have been working hard across today to keep two blazes well within their control lines ahead of dangerous weather expected tomorrow.
The fires at Powers Creek and Kadnook, half an hour from the South Australian border, have burned through more than a combined 300 hectares of land.
"Control lines have been really worked well, and overnight crews have done a lot of work," Horsham incident controller Mark Gunning said.
He said the fire at Powers Creek had burnt 237 hectares and had a perimeter of 11 kilometres.
"The Powers Creek fire actually burnt through a number of fields, so it was in pasture land, it's been in public land, it's been in plantations as well as blue gums," he said.
"It actually ran very fast and was about a kilometre long when the first fire units arrived on scene to tackle it."
The Kadnook fire, which began shortly after, about 10km away, burnt 86ha.
At the height of the fire, 10 aircraft from across the state were operating to assist dozens of volunteers from the Country Fire Authority (CFA), Forest Fire Management Victoria personnel and plantation owners from the Green Triangle Alliance.
On Monday afternoon, authorities reopened Dergholm-Edenhope Road and local roads to allow residents to return to their properties.
Incident controller Bernie Fradd told the ABC the roads had a speed limit of 40kph to allow emergency vehicles to continue their work uninterrupted.
"Crews have been working really hard to make sure no sparks jump the containment lines tomorrow," Mr Fradd said.
Dangerous conditions expected tomorrow
Mr Gunning said the weather forecast had been be "kind" to crews today.
"We expect the fires not to grow on Monday, but there will be fire within the perimeter in both [affected areas], and people will see fire and smoke activity," he said.
He said there would be increased fire activity within the perimeter as the day warmed up.
Mr Gunning said despite the favourable weather conditions, crews would be busy assessing hazardous trees and road infrastructure and reducing fuel loads ahead of dangerous fire conditions tomorrow.
"We want to get as much work done today to consolidate control lines ahead of increased winds and high temperatures on Tuesday," he said.
Winds of up to 35kph are predicted by tomorrow afternoon and a top of 39 degrees.
The fire danger rating will be "high" in the Wimmera district for the next three days.
Mr Gunning said there had been some reports of buildings affected by fire south of Powers Creek, and they would be assessed today.
The cause of the fires is still being investigated.
