Victoria's Christmas Day bushfires

VICTORIA'S CHRISTMAS DAY BUSHFIRES

* Fires on the Great Ocean Road flared up on Christmas Day

* Wye River lost 98 homes

* Firefighters say it could have been 300

* Separation Creek lost 18 homes

* There are 334 homes in those areas - 80 primary residences, the rest holiday homes

* Lorne, Kennett River and Grey River also evacuated before the weather cooled

* About 2200 hectares burnt through

* Lightning started the fire on December 19, in an area of tough terrain that hadn't been burnt in decades

* Residents were sent to Apollo Bay Leisure Centre, Torquay Relief Centre, or Geelong

* Some allowed back in to inspect their homes on Monday

* Preparations underway to allow campers back in to collect belongings

* Wye River fire plan in place since 1984 helped save the town

* Three minor injuries to firefighters, no loss of life

* Insurance estimates up to $53 million so far

* Affected people offered relief grants up to $1300 per household, grants up to $32,000 for primary residences

* Local businesses usually take one third of yearly income in a month over the holidays

* There were also significant Wye River fires in 1939 and 1962, when fire moved into the town