A MASSIVE logistical operation has begun to provide emergency relief for residents of the devastated Kinglake area in north east Victoria who chose to stay and defend their properties.

As more and more refugees flooded down the mountain from Kinglake and surrounding townships and farms into Whittlesea today, emergency relief workers headed the other way, taking desperately needed food, water and fuel supplies.

Throughout the morning, convoys of vehicles and trailers almost overflowing with supplies filed out of the main emergency command post car park.

"That's the second phase of the operation. First it's been making the area safe for firefighters to work in but also getting supplies and resources to people on the mountain who decided to stay and protect their properties," CFA spokesman Dave Wolf said.


"So, that's become the focus this morning, convoys went up earlier taking food, water, and fuel in particular to keep generators going and basically sustain those people while the rest of the rehabilitation process takes place."

Mr Wolf said the first supplies were being sent up to people specifically in Kinglake and surrounds, which are still reeling from the devastating Kinglake Complex fire which has killed more than 70 people and razed at least 550 homes.

"We're aware of a number of families that are up there, particularly on the more remote properties," he said, adding it was still not known just how many people had remained on the mountain nor how many had survived the still-raging inferno.

Matt Virtue, who fled his house at nearby Glenburn on Saturday night, said he had watched as the fire quickly advanced but could not say why others hadn't left any earlier.

"There was nothing on the news about it, people just weren't watching the sky - that's the main thing," Mr Virtue said.

"I've got three generators, fuel, clothes, food all in the back of my car there, but they won't let me back up there. I've been in contact with friends still up there but they've got no power or water."

At 1pm (AEDT), a bus crammed full of evacuees was expected to arrive in Whittlesea, while rumours persisted at the community centre that residents would be allowed to drive up the mountain to check what was left of their properties but authorities could not say when that would happen.

AAP