Christmas Day wildfire destroys more than 100 homes in southern Australia

Locals of Wye River and Separation Creek – the worst-affected towns – were bussed in to survey their properties.

The bushfire also forced evacuation of five Victorian tourist towns nearby.

The main firefront had not gone through Kennet River, but firefighters defending homes there had put out spot fires and no properties had been reported burnt.

Around 500 firefighters and 60 tankers and 18 aircraft were involved in fighting the flames.

Andrew Allen’s house was one of 98 destroyed at Wye River.

Walking tracks in the close by Great Otway National Park have been closed to the general public because the fires reached the park itself.

30 millimetres of train has helped dampen the fire somewhat, but it is feared the blaze could once again flare up come New Years.

“This fire doesn’t go away”, Craig Lapsley, the state’s Emergency Management Commissioner, told a news conference.

“This fire is a fire that will remain with potential to burn in January and February this year”.

“[It was] a unusual experience looking back across the bay at all of that column of smoke whilst we were trying to enjoy our Christmas”, he said.

More than 200 people attended a community meeting in Torquay on Saturday morning, after 90 people sought refuge at a relief centre in the town overnight.

Cooler weather and light rain on Saturday eased the immediate threat from the blaze along Victoria state’s scenic Great Ocean Road, but officials warned that it could continue burning for weeks.

Police are urging people to avoid travelling along the Great Ocean Road this weekend if it is not necessary.

Power has been restored to key points in Wye River and roads are gradually reopening to allow emergency access, however, the battle to contain the fire is far from over.

Because its organisers said the Falls Music and Arts Festival, which will be held near Lorne, might not go ahead.

Amy Hidge, of Wildlife Victoria, told The Guardian that it was not known how many animals had died in the fire.