00:00With cool winds and a top of 18, it doesn't feel like bushfire weather in Dunkelp.
00:08But just 15km north of here, the massive Grampians bushfire continues to burn.
00:15We have very active fire in the landscape, we have a big fire.
00:19More than 40,000 hectares have been burnt within a 300km fire boundary.
00:24But the big concern now is Boxing Day.
00:27With forecast temperatures in the 40s and hot northerly winds.
00:31As those winds swing round to the north, the pressure on that fire will be to drive hard to the south.
00:38So the communities around Dunkeld will be very much in the firing line again.
00:43Local crews have been busy preparing.
00:46We've done just over 200 hectares of burns to create almost a horseshoe shape around the northern interface of the town.
00:54Mary-Anne Brown will host a Christmas lunch on Wednesday, but has her fire plan ready.
00:59We'll probably have a discussion that day as to what we're going to do on Boxing Day.
01:03My personal fire plan is to leave early.
01:07Yes, we're taking bookings for Christmas Day lunch.
01:09It's normally the busiest time of year for the Royal Mail Hotel and its gourmet restaurants.
01:14Since the fires broke out last week, we've certainly seen a lot of cancellations come through.
01:19In the long term, it will be a financial blow to Dunkeld, but it's the immediate threat of fire that has the town on edge.
01:26With Thursday's fire danger rating at the high end of extreme.
01:30Boxing Day, we have to be clear, is going to be problematic.
01:34Boxing Day is going to be a big day for our state.
01:38More than 100 specialist firefighters and incident control teams from interstate will arrive in Victoria over coming days.
01:46As the state prepares for a lengthy battle.
01:49But authorities say those living in the fire zones need to act now.
01:53We can't state strongly enough how critical it is that you don't leave your decision until it's too late.
02:00Making the most of the calm before the storm.
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