UPDATE: OVERNIGHT rain has slowed the progress of two major bushfires burning in eastern Victoria.

Fires burning near Harrietville, in the state's Alpine region, and at Heyfield, in Gippsland, had townships on alert during the week.

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But cooler temperatures and rain eased the fire threat on Saturday and Sunday.

Advice messages remain in place for the two blazes, with authorities warning of fire activity near the Harrietville township.

Residents living downstream of the fire were also told to remain vigilant about their water quality. 

In Heyfield, about 200km east of Melbourne, fire crews were able to stop the 66,000 hectare Aberfeldy blaze on Friday afternoon from roaring further into Gippsland properties.

"We've endured the wind changes. The fire hasn't run hard. It hit the edge hard in places, but we've dealt with that," CFA incident controller Dennis Matthews told reporters about the successful fire fight.

"We see no immediate threat to the community."

But authorities are now dealing with what may be deliberately lit blazes found burning away from the main Gippsland bushfire in grassland, around 11am (AEDT). Police are investigating.

Residents were spared a second onslaught from the fire that had days earlier claimed a life in Seaton and burned down multiple homes.

Unlike last week, when the blaze sent a thick haze as far as Melbourne's western suburbs, two wind changes swept through the area yesterday but didn't push the fires into the towns.

"I'm very relieved for the town itself," said Rob Gibbs, who spent days in Cowwarr near the edge of the blaze, helping local CFA crews.

"It's a close-knit community. We need to protect the town."