Fanned by winds up to 70 km/h, the flumes spread swiftly, battled by more than 3,000 firefighters.

The loss of Victorian houses was put at more than 200, making it the worst single day for bush-fires in the State since four people died and 81 houses were destroyed in the Western District on February 12, 1977.

The State Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mr Mathews, speaking from the Country Fire Authority emergency centre in Melbourne said yesterday’s bushfires were probably the worst natural disaster in Victoria’s history.

Firemen were battling blazes last night throughout the State at Mt Baw Baw, Lorne, Cudgee, East Trentham, Belgrave, Mt Napier, Lake Mundy and the Port Campbell National Park.

Eight hundred people were evacuated from Gisborne, northwest of Melbourne, and 84 houses had been destroyed in the town, police said. They said the town was ringed by fire shortly before 1 am.

Late last night the fire in the south-east of South Australia was burning in a 120km front into Victoria, fanned by wind gusts of up to 100 km/h. A number of farming areas were evacuated.

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The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, last night changed his campaign itinerary and will fly to Adelaide this morning and visit areas ravaged by bushfires.

The Opposition Leader, Mr Hawke, will stick by his prearranged election program and has asked his deputy leader, Mr Bowen, to visit the bushfire areas on Labor’s behalf.