Campers have been evacuated as an out-of-control bushfire burns near a conservation area in Tasmania’s north-east.

The blaze close to the Waterhouse Conservation Area near the seaside town of Tomahawk was reported shortly before 4am on Thursday, prompting an emergency warning.

Tasmania Fire Service regional chief Jeff Harper said 16 firefighting vehicles, six aircraft and two planes were battling the fire.

“At this stage it’s not known how the fire started,” he said.

“Fire crews have been evacuating campers from the area, as there are concerns the fire will spread to Homestead Road which is the only way in and out of the conservation area.

“People who have been displaced are advised that there are nearby safer places located at Bridport to the west of the fire, and Gladstone to the east of the fire.”

Dozens of homes lost

In Victoria’s west, 24 properties are confirmed to have been destroyed by a bushfire that swept through the small town of Pomonal on Tuesday afternoon.

Another home was lost at Dadswells Bridge, in the Grampians National Park. Damage assessments continued on Thursday.

Friends and family are appealing for financial help on GoFundMe as harrowing stories emerged from the ashes.

One local woman, known as Jemma, lost her farm and restaurant Wild Misty Mountain.

“Tragically her property has been devastated by fire and overnight she has lost everything. My uncle’s house across the road also burned down,” said her cousin on GoFundMe.

“The entire community has been devastated. There is a long road to recovery ahead.

“With no home she, along with her farm hands, are in temporary crisis accommodation at the local town of Stawell. The government assistance amounts to $640 per person.”

Another Pomonal Bushfire Recovery appeal had raised more than $43,000 on Thursday.

All that’s left of the Wild Misty Mountain restaurant at Pomonal. Photo: GoFundMe

Grampians Tourism chief executive Marc Sleeman estimated the losses equated to about 40 per cent of all homes in his small town.

“When you start counting how many homes are in that small Pomonal pocket, not considering the outer regions, it’s a pretty big impact,”  said Sleeman.

“It was just that change of wind that swept around and took hold.”

The community member and father of three learned only on Wednesday that his home was still standing after firefighters and the Country Fire Authority volunteers defended it.

“It’s bittersweet when I know lots of friends and family have lost homes and lost businesses,” Sleeman said.

“There was lots of hugs, as you saw last night at that community meeting, and quite a lot of tears.

“To have 27 to 30 homes destroyed in one fire in a small community like Pomonal is just a shocking thing to happen.”

Watch and act warnings have been downgraded to advice messages for both the fires to the national park’s east and north, paving the way for Pomonal and Dadswells Bridge residents to soon return to home to survey the damage for themselves.

“Hopefully we get notification that we go in and just assess what we’ve lost,” said Sleeman.

“I know we’ve lost a few sheds and boats and things like that, but small things in comparison to what other people have lost.”

Lightning is believed to have started the Grampians fire that’s destroyed at least 25 homes. Photo: AAP (CFA handout)

Sleeman urged tourists not to cancel their travel plans to other parts of the region, which remain open.

“For a lot of the businesses in Pomonal, they’re going to need the support more than ever now,” he said.

“It’s a very a community-minded town and I know that when we do get back in there it’s going to be all hands on deck getting people back on their feet.”

Emergency relief payments of $640 per adult and $320 per child with a maximum of $2240 for a family are  available for affected residents.

People will be able to apply for the payments over the phone or in person at emergency relief centres in Ararat and Stawell.

Almost all fires sparked in Victoria on Tuesday are believed to have been started by lightning strikes as severe storms lashed the state.

Another bushfire sprang up at the Warby-Ovens National Park near the Victorian Alps in the state’s north-east on Wednesday. Authorities issuing a watch-and-act alert before later downgrading it.

The threat from an uncontrolled bushfire at Newtown near Ballarat has also eased after residents were told to evacuate.

-with AAP