Australia Weather News

The rugged mountain ranges of the Grampians/Gariwerd National Park loom large over Shane Wells's western Victorian property.

From the foot of his dam, Mr Wells can normally watch the sunrise just beyond the mountain ranges.

But checking the pumps on his farm dam in the early morning light this weekend, Mr Wells noticed a change.

"Usually you can see all the mountains with the sun coming up," Mr Wells said.

"No mountains this morning."

This week has been anything but usual, with thick plumes of smoke settling in across the grand vista.

About 700 firefighters and 63 firefighting planes battled multiple blazes in the National Park on Saturday, pushing smoke across parts of the western district.

It comes as south-east Australia braces for heatwave conditions with hot, dry weather and dry lightning potential.

Mr Wells has ensured his home has the best possible chance of withstanding any fire activity, installing sprinklers and clearing the outskirts of his land.

He will stay and defend his property if fire approaches, while his wife prepares meals for other volunteers from the local shop.

It is what happens in small towns. Everyone chips in.

"It's been pretty overwhelming actually, to see how everyone comes together," he said.

Heatwave conditions

A forecast severe heatwave coupled with high fire danger across most of Victoria is front of mind for authorities.

Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said with no substantial rainfall forecast for Victoria in February, the state's fire season would likely continue for longer than usual.  

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Kevin Larkyn said temperatures across continental Australia had hit 40-45 degrees Celsius in recent weeks.

"The continental interior of Australia's like a frying pan at the moment," he said.

"And Victoria will be tapping into the fringes of that hot air mass in the coming days."

Melbourne temperatures are expected to reach at least 37 degrees for three days straight from Sunday, something that has not occurred since January 2014.

Little relief

State Control Centre spokesperson Luke Heagerty said daytime temperatures across Victoria were unlikely to relent overnight.

He said prolonged high temperatures could pre-heat fuel loads in areas already under attack.

"So anything that's in front of this fire is going to already be closer to the temperature of ignition required," he said.

"We've got a couple of days of the state baking, things are very hot and dry, so even with less [forecast] winds than we'd normally be concerned about, we still think any winds will drive any fires that do start."

A base camp for travelling firefighters has been set up in Horsham, and Mr Heagerty said other smaller camps were being installed so firefighters could deploy as needed with minimum wait times.

Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said more than 120 interstate firefighters and emergency personnel had joined the fight in Victoria and commended employers who allowed staff leave to battle the fires.

Community meetings were held in fire-impacted parts of the state on Saturday.

Southern Grampians Shire Council chief executive Tony Doyle said residents like Shane Wells who lived near the fire front were holding up well.

"They're a very tight community, and they'll look after each other and do what's needed to get through," he said.