Raging fires leave Victorian towns under threat THE worst bushfires since Black Saturday continue to ravage Victoria, with one woman dead, homes destroyed and towns evacuated. Firefighters are battling 75 blazes, the worst of them in the Grampians, Gippsland, and the Mallee. Fires raged in and around the Grampians tourist town of Halls Gap, which was evacuated. Before lunchtime on Friday all locals and visitors were urged to evacuate for their own safety, with unpredictable winds pushing the huge fire front toward the town. One woman died and at least two buildings were destroyed at Roses Gap, to the north. Some residents ignored emergency warnings and decided to stay and try to save their properties. Residents in nearby Pomonal who decided to do so had their access to water cut because of a fault in a major pipeline. A GWM Water spokewoman said the kilometre-long pipeline between Halls Gap and Pomonal has damaged and crews are unable to repair the problem until tomorrow. There's no water supple to the town of Pomonal at the moment because of a break in the pipeline. It's unlikely to be restored until tomorrow," she said. Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said he was pleased so many residents had fled. Evacuation is occurring in the main but some have elected to stay and protect their properties. They have the right to do so if they are an owner - but they also take on that risk themselves," he said. A Helicopter waterbombs the fire front near Black Ridge in the Grampians. Picture: Paul Loughnan. Firefighters put out a spotfire east of Halls Gap. He said bluntly that Halls Gap would burn, but fire trucks had moved into the town to limit the damage. "There is a fair chance of losing property and if people are caught in the wrong space, life could be lost," Mr Lapsley said. A strike team of CFA crews remained in town, with some quickly called to spot fires flaring just outside the town. Lightning strikes started about 25 fires in East Gippsland, which are forecast to form an inferno of half a million hectares that will take a huge effort to control. "That fire has the potential to burn significant areas over the next couple of days," Mr Lapsley said. He warned it could take more than a week to overcome it. Several remote fires are burning in East Gippsland with an emergency warning in place for Glenaladale, Fernbank and The Fingerboards, between Sale and Bairnsdale. A watch-and-act alert is in place for Westbury. Public information officer Frankie MacLennan, based at the Traralgon incident control centre, said residents were encouraged to prepare for the sudden wind change which was forecast for 8-10pm on Friday. A CFA firefighter battles a blaze started by lightning at Trafalgar West, near O'Briens Rd. "We don't know what that weather is going to bring," she said. At the moment it's a south-easterly, but with the wind change it will move toward the east in the direction of Westbury. We're all ready to go but we don't know what's going to happen. Fires that have burned for several days across 40,000ha in the northwest Mallee region are expected to continue through the weekend. Nine aircraft are supporting about 250 firefighters in the battle to control those blazes, occurring mainly in parkland and reserves. Police vented their anger after it was found that at least 12 of the fires - including three on Friday on Melbourne's northern fringe - were deliberately lit. The hunt for firebugs is continuing. Smoke above Dadswells Bridge. Premier Denis Napthine confirmed that one resident of Roses Gap had been found dead in her home, after ignoring advice to leave. "That should be a very, very salient lesson to everybody," Dr Napthine said. When you are told there is a huge risk to your life and property, then your life is worth saving by leaving early and making sure that you are safe. I am disappointed that people haven't taken the message (to evacuate). Mr Lapsley described the Grampians blaze as "intense and erratic." He said the wind change that was destined to hit Halls Gap late Friday yesterday arrived about an hour and a half earlier than forecast and winds of up to 120km/h were being whipped up. He said the fire had given birth to a 12km convection column that was creating its own weather, causing thunder and lightning strikes. "They are having lightning in the area generated by that convection column, they are having spot fires dropping in and around Halls Gap," he said. We are at the start of what is a significant fire period. Paul Turner hoses down his Halls Gap property as the fire burns ominously over the hill. Evelyn Cox, a resident for more than 30 years, was among the last to leave at 1.30pm. Black smoke clouded an orange sky as Ms Cox picked up her mail from the deserted post office before climbing into her van. It doesn't look too good, does it? I'm taking my bed in my van," she said in the middle of the empty main street. But Ms Cox left, following dozens of her neighbours driving out along Grampians Rd, headlights glaring through the smoky haze. Farmer Ben Rayner said he would defy evacuation orders and stay behind to protect his 4ha property. The 28-year-old had spent weeks mowing the grass around his farm and stood ready with his own fire truck. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said police found the local Roses Gap resident dead in her home yesterday morning and believed it to be a fire-related death. It is understood police visited the woman on Thursday and begged her to evacuate if the fire closed in but she refused. He said 12 of the 70 fires burning were the work of arsonists. When people are lighting fires on days like today, there is a very real risk people may die. For people to think this is a sensible thing to do is astounding," he added. Dr Napthine described the arsonists as "low life." Matt Humphries runs Halls Gap's only pub, which he shut to seek refuge in Stawell with his pregnant wife and their 22-month-old son. Livestock and property have already been lost across the state, but the full toll will not be known for days.