The fire has been burning in a 'mosaic' pattern. So the wind will come up, the fire will surge through an area, but leave many unburnt patches, interlaced with burnt patches where it continues smoldering, including underground. It will die down, and appear to be gone for a couple of days. But then the wind will come up again and blow it back through the area it was in, and light up the unburnt patches. Then the wind will change again and it will head in a different direction and repeat the pattern.
I've been watching the monster rattle around the landscape for almost four weeks now. It's around 160,000 hectares in size and still growing. I don't think it will stop doing this 'hit and run' activity until there's heavy rain which may not be for a month or two.
This is the least relaxing Xmas I've ever had !!