Bushfire property losses top 700 ahead of 'spike day'

LATEST ON VICTORIAN BUSHFIRE SITUATION:

* 11 major fires burning as of Wednesday afternoon

* 10 watch-and-act warnings

* 19 advice warnings

* More than 700 structures destroyed or significantly damaged, including more than 450 outbuildings

* 228 homes destroyed and 15 homes damaged

* 54 homes razed in the Ravenswood and Harcourt fire, up from 51

* 143 homes razed in the Longwood fire, up from 90 homes

* Nine razed in the Walwa fire, up from four

* Grass Flat and Natimuk fire brought under control

* Streatham fire expected to brought under control on later on Wednesday

* Still too unsafe for residents in some areas to return to assess damage

* Farmers caught up in the Longwood fire to receive aerial fodder drops

* Crews on fire grounds conducting back burning and building containment lines

* Another "spike day" expected around January 23 or 24

* Victoria's peak fire danger expected in February

NEW SUPPORTS FOR BUSHFIRE-HIT COMMUNITIES:

* $15 million to establish Community Recovery Officers and Recovery Hubs

* $16 million for households impacted by extended power outages

* An initial $40 million in grants of up to $75,000 to be made available to eligible primary producers to help cover clean-up and re-establishment costs

* A further $10 million in concessional loans to help primary producers

* Almost $12 million to help councils restore vital community assets and services

* More than $4 million to provide financial counselling

Sources: Victorian government, Emergency Management Victoria, Country Fire Authority, Forest Fire Management Victoria