Two fires were already burning out of control in South Australia and fire chiefs warned the state faced its worst days of the season so far.
Late on Friday firefighters in Victoria stopped the head of the grass fire that was threatening homes near Moyston in the state’s west, but residents were urged to “watch and act” for further possible flare-ups.
In Tasmania authorities issued a state-wide fire ban. Hot and dry conditions were expected on Saturday, exacerbated by wind gusts of more than 50km/h, making any fire that started difficult to contain or control.
Temperatures across southern Australia were expected to reach into the low 40s on Saturday, as hot desert air was drawn south-east by a slow-moving low-pressure trough.
A cooler south-west change was expected to reach Adelaide by Saturday lunchtime and Melbourne by evening.
But while the cool change should end the first heatwave of the summer, it was not expected to bring any rain.
On Friday night in the foothills of the Grampians in western Victoria, thick palls of smoke hung over towns and farms.
The fire to the south and west of the town had burned out 3,000 hectares of grassland. The Country Fire Authority had 45 tankers and 11 aircraft fighting the fire, and residents had been told it is too late to leave.
Moyston guesthouse owner Karen Fraser said the fire raced close to her property, before fire crews cut it off.
“We could see flames in the paddock across the road. We’re very grateful they were able to stop it coming to us.”
She said a lack of fuel in the paddock and favourable conditions also helped contain the blaze.
Reports a home near Maroona had been destroyed by the same fire could not be confirmed on Friday night, but residents of the town had been told to leave as the fire was heading towards them.
Victoria had an extreme fire danger rating, with temperatures predicted to hit 40C in the west with winds gusting up to 90km/h.
In South Australia, two bushfires were burning out of control and threatening homes and lives.
About 500 firefighters and eight aircraft were battling to contain blazes at Humbug Scrub in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Tantanoola in the south-east of the state.
The scrub fire at Tantanoola was travelling towards the towns of Glencoe and Burrungule. Authorities had warned it was no longer safe to leave the area by vehicle or by foot.
Country Fire Service spokesman Rob Sanford said the forecast conditions were the worst the state had experienced this summer.
“We need the entire community to be prepared for the rest of today, through tonight and through tomorrow,” he said Friday.
“If fires start under those conditions, they will be uncontrollable. People’s lives will be put at risk and communities will be put at risk.”
Tasmania had imposed a state-wide fire ban.
“Machinery that emit sparks, such as mowers, slashers, grinders and other cutting tools are banned as this type of activity has the potential to start fires,” Tasmania fire service chief Gavin Freeman said.
There was also a ban on harvesting between 11am and 6pm, and authorities had asked that non-essential water use be curbed so water was available for fire crews if needed.
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