Residents are being told to leave as fire crews battle to bring a bushfire in Victoria’s Gippsland region under control.

Emergency warnings were issued for Stockdale, Stratford, Briagolong and surrounding areas in the early hours of Tuesday morning due to the fire that started at Duffy Road, Briagolong.

Firefighters have been unable to stop the fire which is moving towards the Princes Highway and threatening homes and lives, the Victorian Country Fire Authority said.

People in the Stockdale and Stratford areas have been told to leave before conditions become too dangerous, while those in Brigalong should take shelter as it’s too late to leave.

Another out of control fire, which started further south near Lakeside Track within the Gippsland Coastal park, is also causing concern.

The fire is moving southeast after it crossed the Longford-Loch Sport Road and residents in Seacombe and nearby areas who have been unable to leave should take shelter.

Country Fire Authority Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said on Monday the next 24 hours would be difficult, with wild winds associated with a cold front set to make conditions worse.

“At the moment we’ve got a fire situation affecting families in East Gippsland, and then not 24 hours later an emergency rain event affecting those same communities,” he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology said on Tuesday that people in the Central, West and South Gippsland and parts of East Gippsland, South West, North Central, North East and Wimmera districts should brace for damaging winds and heavy rainfall.

The winds will develop during Tuesday morning before heavy rain in the afternoon.

By Melissa Meehan in Melbourne