PREMIER John Brumby has pledged to rebuild the fire-ravaged communities of Victoria. 

Touring the devastated towns of Marysville, Buxton and Kinglake, Mr Brumby and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday declared unconditional support for residents wishing to rebuild their homes and towns, the HeraldSun reports.

Mr Rudd said victims of the weekend's bushfires had been to "hell and back" but the Federal Government would help them rebuild "every step of the way".

The Premier called a royal commission into the fires and the bushfire policy that promotes either leaving early or staying to defend your property.

In Marysville, Mr Brumby said it looked as though a bomb had gone off in the once picturesque town.

"Virtually the whole town has been destroyed," he said. "I saw some of the devastation after Ash Wednesday, but I have never seen anything like this in my life. It is a mixture of fire, hurricane and cyclone -- houses, trees just snapped in half.

"But whatever steps are necessary to rebuild the town, we will rebuild it.

"The community of Marysville has a special place in the hearts of Australians so we will be doing everything we need to do with the community, local government and federal government to rebuild the area," Mr Brumby said.

He warned the death toll was likely to rise.

The focus for the next few days would be making sure existing fires don't get out of control and cleaning up areas to make them safe so that people can return home as quickly as possible.

The army now has more than 400 soldiers working alongside emergency services.

Mr Rudd said the devastation was huge and it would be a difficult journey that would take time, but he vowed to see it through.

He said Victoria had the full support of federal authorities and "no effort" would be spared in the rebuilding effort.

"These communities will be rebuilt," Mr Rudd said.

"We will partner together to rebuild communities that have been reduced to ash.

"These communities will rise again through the efforts of the local people and governments combined.

"It will take a long time but we intend to be there for the duration so that we emerge even stronger and more resilient than before."

Read more on the HeraldSun online.