The death toll in the Victorian bushfires now stands at more than 173, police have confirmed.
Of these, at least 33 people have died in Kinglake alone, just north of Melbourne.
The latest death toll surpasses that from the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, in which 75 people died in Victoria and South Australia, and the Black Friday bushfires of 1939, which killed 71.
Firefighters have worked through the night to battle dozens of fires that continue to burn across the state.
Police confirmed on Monday that nine were killed in Kinglake West and seven died in Strathewen.
Six people were killed in St Andrews, 12 in Marysville, eight in Narbethong and three in Taggerty.
Seven were killed in Steeles Creek, two in Mudegegonga, one in Yarra Glen and four in Koornalla.
In Hazeldene two people were killed and three perished in nearby Flowerdale.
In Gippsland, nine people were killed in Callignee and one person died in Upper Callignee.
Four perished in Hazelwood and one died in Jeeralang.
Four died in Wandong, one in Arthurs Creek, one in Eaglehawk and four in Humevale.
Six people died in unspecified locations.
Twenty people are being treated for serious burns at The Alfred hospital. Ten of those are in a critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit, spokesman John Heselez said.
"There were three who we were very concerned about, but they made it through the night,'' he said.
It is believed half the burns victims are from Whittlesea.
Mr Russell said conditions on Monday morning had improved from the weekend with a cooler change coming through with moist air.
A southerly wind is pushing fires in a north to north-easterly direction.
"Our biggest concern at the moment is around Beechworth, in the farming and grazing country of north-east Victoria,'' Mr Russell said.
Communities around the town of Yackandandah in Victoria's north-east are under immediate threat today after fires jumped the Kiawa river and Yackandandah Road.
The fire has skirted Beechworth and is heading towards Yackandandah.
"There are seven or eight small settlements in the path of this fire and those residents have been urged to get their fire plans underway,'' Mr Russell said.
There were 31 active fires across the state as of 5.30am on Monday, the DSE and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) said.
At least 750 homes have been destroyed and more than 330,000 hectares burnt out, while authorities said some fires could take weeks to contain.
The Murrindindi Mill fire has so far burned up to 93,000ha and is still burning in a northeasterly direction.
The DSE and CFA said the spread of fire in the Bunyip Ridge area has been halted, but authorities warned that there may still be increased amounts of smoke in the area and local road use could be hazardous.
Ninety-two firefighters from Tasmania will arrive to help the firefighting effort on Monday morning, in addition to the 150 NSW firefighters currently helping fight the Beechworth fires.
While the weather has cooled across most of Victoria, authorities warn that there remains a very high risk of bushfire.
He said a number of roads had been closed as a safety precaution to protect people from being caught in a bushfire.
Anyone concerned about family and friends in the fire areas are advised to call the National Registry Inquiry Service on 1800 727 077.
Donations:
• Australian Red Cross - 1800 811 700 or online
• Bushfire Hotline - 1800 240 667
• Family Help Hotline - 1800 727 077
• SES - 132 500
• CFA website.
Email a friend