People in several towns in Victoria’s south-west have been advised to “monitor conditions” as firefighters continue to battle an out-of-control bushfire in the Grampians.

Deputy Incident Controller Ben Matthews expected the watch and act warnings to remain in place for towns within and near the Grampians for some time.

The warning applies to Cavendish, Mona Park, Mooralla, Big Cord, Mirranatwa, Strachans, Victoria Point and Victoria Valley.

“The threat is reduced, but the situation can change at any time. You must monitor conditions and be ready to act,” the warning said.

Those who were able to leave and have no other place to stay, are urged to travel to the Hamilton Emergency Relief Centre at 113 Brown Street, Hamilton, which is open from 9am to 7pm but has a phone number for out-of-hours service.

It comes as a fire burning in the Little Desert National Park intensified following strong winds.

“The fire was initially contained, but the fire had some significant wind gusts, caused by thunderstorms.,” Matthews said.

“This came very close to the township of Goroke.”

A watch and act alert remains current for Goroke, Kaniva, Lawloit, Miram South and Peronne.

The fire has grown to 83,000 hectares.

Three firefighters battling the blaze yesterday were forced to flee after their firefighting ute became engulfed in flames.

Emergency management commissioner Rick Nugent confirmed yesterday that the crew managed to escape the vehicle before it was totally engulfed.

Another hot day is expected to trouble firefighters battling blazes around the state, with tops of up to 35 degrees after a warm night.

But a cool change is anticipated to sweep through mid-afternoon.

More thunderstorms are also expected around the state after hundreds of homes were battered and damaged yesterday.

One, in Taylors Lakes, Melbourne, caught alight after a lightning strike yesterday morning.

But it was Geelong which bore the brunt of the damage, at the epicentre of a major storm.

The SES received about 950 calls for assistance during the storms yesterday, with about half of those coming from Geelong.

Images showed houses with trees fallen on them and others with their roofs ripped off, after 80km/hr winds were recorded.