A GIPPSLAND town faces days of nervous waiting amid fears it will be the next community menaced by a massive bushfire.

The head of the said there was a high chance Maffra, with a population of 4500, would find itself in the path of the destructive Aberfeldy blaze.

With no rain predicted to provide relief in the next week, there is deep concern hot weather and north-westerly winds will combine to push the fire front towards the town, the Herald Sun reports.

It has already taken the life of an 80-year-old Seaton man and destroyed nine properties since starting four days ago.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said yesterday if the blaze took hold east of the Macalister River and moved into the Avon wilderness area, it would be northwest of Maffra by Thursday when winds are forecast to blow from that direction.

"That would see the fire push through the wilderness towards the Maffra district. There's a 70 to 80 per cent chance of this happening," Mr Lapsley said.

Full report, Herald Sun.