Victoria fires live: Warnings for more towns as over 40 fires burn; mercury tops 40C in three states

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Where to find the latest warnings from emergency services

In an emergency, the ABC will broadcast regular warnings on ABC Radio.

The radio frequences to tune into across Victoria include:

Goulburn Valley: 97.7 FM

Corryong: 99.7 FM

Upper Murray: 106.5 FM

Melbourne: 774 AM

Alexandra: 102.9 FM

Mansfield: 103.7 FM

Eildon: 98.1 FM

Further information, including maps of emergency warnings, can be found on the ABC emergency page.

State emergency services also issue their own alerts.

For warnings in Victoria, visit VicEmergency.

For South Australia, visit the SA Country Fire Service.

For NSW, visit the Rural Fire Service.

— Miles Proust

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Warnings issued for seven fires across Victoria

Emergency warnings have been issued for seven fires across Victoria.

They include:

The Longwood fire north of Melbourne

The Walwa fire in the state's north-east

A grass fire at Ravenswood South, south of Bendigo

A grass fire at Skipton, south-west of Ballarat

A grass fire at Natimuk, west of Horsham

A grass fire near Muckatah in the state's north

A fire at Mount Mercer near Meredith

An earlier warning for Avalon in Geelong's north has been downgraded to advice level.

Emergency warnings have been issued for seven blazes across Victoria. Source: VicEmergency

— Miles Proust

Wildlife affected by heatwave conditions

John Grant, from the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES), has spoken to ABC News about how native wildlife is affected by heatwave conditions.

"The first ones to be affected generally are flying foxes or any type of bat because they can't regulate their body temperature," he said.

"As soon it goes over 40C they tend to collapse."

He said people should not touch bats if they find them due to the viruses they can carry.

Residents should instead call WIRES or other wildlife organisations so a vaccinated volunteer can handle them.

Grant said possums, koalas and birds will often come to the ground during extreme heat.

Some wildlife will also seek shelter on properties, with Grant advising people to check swimming pools for animals that may have fallen in while drinking.

— Miles Proust

Total fire ban issued for parts of NSW on Saturday

A total fire ban has been issued for large parts of NSW on Saturday as extreme weather conditions sweep across the state.

The ban will be in place in the Greater Hunter, Central Ranges, Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Southern Ranges, Southern Slopes, Monaro Alpine and Far South Coast.

Most of the state will be in extreme and high fire conditions.

A total fire ban will also be in place across all of Victoria.

— Miles Proust

Warning issued for Geelong's north

An out-of-control grass fire has also broken out in Geelong's north.

Residents in Avalon, Corio and Lara have been advised to shelter indoors.

"You are in danger, act now to protect yourself. It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately," VicEmergency warned.

— Miles Proust

Warning for areas near Castlemaine

An emergency warning has been issued for a grass fire burning out of control near Castelmaine.

The warning is for Barkers Creek, Harcourt, Harcourt North, Muckleford, Ravenswood, Ravenswood South and Walmer.

Residents are advised to shelter indoors.

"You are in danger, act now to protect yourself. It is too late to leave," VicEmergency says.

"The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. Do not get in the car and drive. It is safer to stay where you are."

— Miles Proust

Three people still missing, Jacinta Allan says

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said three people, earlier reported missing in the Longwood fire, remain unaccounted for.

Anyone with information about the trio, which includes a child, should contact the police.

Earlier, Allan said personal hardship grants for affected residents had been activated.

She said residents in the Strathbogie, Towong, Mansfield and Murrindindi local government areas were eligible for the assistance.

"The requirements are people who have been asked to evacuate, or who have had their home damaged and destroyed by fire."

— Miles Proust

Evacuation warning issued for certain areas near Ballarat

VicEmergency has advised residents in Carranballac, Skipton, Streatham and Vite Vite North near Ballarat to evacuate immediately.

A grass fire at Streatham is out of control and is travelling east towards Skipton, where it's expected to impact at 4.30pm.

For more information about current warnings, visit the VicEmergency website.

— Miles Proust

More than 700 firefighters battling 40 fires across Victoria

Brendan Moon, the coordinator general of the National Emergency Management Agency, said 40 fires are active across the state.

More than 700 Victorian firefighters are battling the blazes, along with interstate crews.

"The national aerial firefighting fleet is also providing support."

— Miles Proust

Warnings issued for new fires in Victoria's west

VicEmergency has issued fresh warnings in the past hour.

A grassfire on the outskirts of Natimuk near Horsham in the state's west is threatening homes.

Residents in Arapiles, Duchembegarra, Grass Flat, Mitre, Natimuk and Tooan have been advised to shelter indoors.

"You are in danger. Act now to protect yourself. It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately," the warning states.

Residents in Haven, Lower Norton, McKenzie Creek, Noradjuha, Pimpinio, Quantong, Vectis, Vectis East, Vectis South have been advised to leave immediately.

A relief centre is being opened at Horsham Senior Citizens Centre at 17 Roberts Avenue, Horsham.

Another grass fire at Telfers Rd, Grass Flat is out of control, with residents in Haven, Lower Norton, McKenzie Creek, Noradjuha, Pimpinio, Quantong, Vectis, Vectis East, Vectis South advised to leave immediately.

— Miles Proust

Tens of thousands of Victorians without power

Tens of thousands of properties are experiencing power outages across Victoria.

Electricity distributor Powercor reported 25,015 customers were offline in Western Victoria as of 2.20pm.

In the state's east, AusNet reported more than 18,000 customers had been affected by outages.

— Miles Proust

Fundraiser set up for destroyed animal shelter

A crowd fundraiser has been set up for a native animal shelter destroyed by the Longwood bushfire.

Victorian wildlife rescuer Robyn Coy rescued and rehabilitated injured and orphaned native animals, including koalas and wallabies hurt in fires in 2015, out of the Tarcombe Animal Shelter near Seymour.

A fundraiser for the destroyed animal shelter had raised nearly $5,000 by Friday afternoon.

"Robyn lost everything in the fire and was not insured due to financial difficulties of self-funding the shelter," the fundraiser states.

Animal Justice Party MP for Northern Victoria, Georgie Purcell, said the shelter had for years been an "incredible champion for wildlife in need".

"To hear that it has been completely destroyed by fire is nothing short of a tragedy.

"Dr Robyn Coy has opened her home to countless native animals for care, rehabilitation and release. Now, in her time of need, it's so vitally important that the community rallies behind her to recover and rebuild."

— Miles Proust

'Much more devastation' expected to be uncovered when roads reopen, mayor says

Mitchell Shire mayor, John Dougall, has told ABC News he expects more damage to be discovered when roads reopen in the towns affected by the Longwood fire.

He said residents streaming into the Seymour Sports and Aquatics Centre, set up as a disaster relief spot, has brought stories of devastation.

"People were told to evacuate and they really had no time to act. They made that decision and they did," he said.

"The primary school at Ruffy has been burnt to the ground, the general store at Ruffy, again burnt to the ground."

He said the fire had covered a large area and many communities remained under threat.

Dougall said the area was particularly vulnerable because of below-average rainfall last year.

"Now we have this fire that is underway, that vulnerability is turning into a real danger and real threat."

— Miles Proust

Extreme heat in SA, Victoria and NSW

Melbourne reached 40C by 12.30pm on Friday as north-westerly winds brought extreme heat from the interior. A top of 43C is forecast for the city — three degrees off the all-time record.

Parts of South Australia are also experiencing extreme heat, with Renmark and Port Augusta reaching 44C by 12.30pm. Both towns are forecast to reach 46C.

Temperatures in south-western NSW have reached the low forties, with the hottest air expected to reach the NSW coast on Saturday. Sydney is forecast to reach 42C on Saturday, which would be its hottest day in six years.

Damaging winds of up to 90km/h are forecast this afternoon for most of Victoria and Tasmania, before moving into south-east NSW on Saturday.

A cool change will bring relief to Melbourne this evening, which could result in a drop of 20C.

— Miles Proust

Longwood fire: in pictures

The Longwood fire has burned through more than 30,000 hectares.

Claire Ewart-Kennedy, the deputy mayor of Strathbogie Shire Council, in which the Longwood fire sits, told ABC NewsRadio it's "absolutely the worst I have seen it".

Claire Ewart-Kennedy, the deputy mayor of Strathbogie Shire Council, says the Longwood fire is "absolutely the worst" she has seen. Source: Supplied / VicEmergency

Forecast bands of dry lightning across the state have sparked mini fires surrounding the Walwa and Longwood fires, CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said. Source: Supplied / VicEmergency

The Longwood fire has now spread across 3000km and is burning across bushland in a south-easterly direction. Source: Supplied / VicEmergency

— Josie Harvey

New shelter warnings issued

VicEmergency has issued further shelter warnings for areas near the Longwood fire, which is travelling in a south-east direction towards Eildon.

Residents in Cathkin, Caveat, Ghin Ghin, Highlands, Kanumbra, Killingworth, Koriella, Molesworth, Whanregarwen, and Yarck are urged to shelter indoors immediately.

— Miles Proust

'It could easily turn on itself and wipe us out pretty quickly'

Daniel Boote, also from Avenel, said the fire's unpredictability was the scariest part.

"On a day like today and what's expected, it could easily turn on itself and wipe us out pretty quickly," he told SBS News.

His uncle, Rod Johns, left his home on Thursday afternoon.

Daniel Boote (left) and his uncle Rod Johns spoke to SBS News at the Seymour disaster relief centre. Source: SBS / Tys Occhiuzzi

"I used to live here, so I've got friends here and stayed with them last night. We both know of a number of people who think they've lost their houses … so it's very sad, very sad," Boote said.

Johns was the police commander in the area during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and said he knew what catastrophic conditions could bring.

"It's still amazing how many people don't take note of the warnings … but I think most people take the message and get out. The good thing is we had plenty of warning so people could plan and move," he said.

John Dougall, the mayor of Mitchell Shire, said it was a difficult time for the community.

"A very tense time for our community, it's eerie almost with the fire right on our doorstep almost."

— Tys Occhiuzzi

Locals say Longwood fire feels like 'déjà vu'

Terry and Sue Trimmer from Avenel, near the Longwood fire, loaded up their car and left their home on Thursday.

"[It’s been] sirens, chaos, we had a meeting last night and the CFA said today will be catastrophic and people need to understand what catastrophic means," Trimmer told SBS News at a disaster relief centre in Seymour.

Terry and Sue Trimmer from Avenel evacuated their home on Thursday. Source: SBS / Tys Occhiuzzi

Terry said it felt like a "bit of déjà vu" following similar incidents in the past.

"That's why we took note of the Emergency Vic app, which told us to go … so we loaded up the car and off we went.

"Nature is biting back.

"We slept in the car, we didn't have to; they have everything here, but for us oldies, it was actually easier to sleep in the car."

— Tys Occhiuzzi

Shelter-in-place warning for Longwood fire

VicEmergency has issued shelter-in-place warnings for several areas threatened by the Longwood fire.

They include Alexandra, Fawcett, Lake Eildon, Maintongoon, Devils River, Ancona, Merton, Strathbogie, Strathbogie South, Woodfield and Gooram.

Other areas where residents are urged to shelter include Caveat, Creightons Creek, Dropmore, Gobur, Highlands, Kanumbra, Kelvin View, Locksley, Longwood, Longwood East, Ruffy, Tarcombe, Terip Terip and Upton Hill.

— Miles Proust

Australians' thoughts with those affected, PM says

Speaking from Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians' thoughts were with those facing bushfires in Victoria and flooding in northern Queensland.

"These are difficult times and we are confronting some extreme weather conditions in different parts of Australia, different conditions. I would say this is an opportunity for me to emphasise that people need to listen to the advice as it comes through.

"If you're asked to leave your property, please do so."

— Miles Proust

Firefighter injured in Ruffy

CFA chief fire officer Jason Heffernan said a firefighter battling the Ruffy fire sustained significant injuries to their hand and had been taken to Melbourne for treatment.

"They're trained, they do their best, unfortunately, things happen from time to time," he said.

"I'm just grateful on this occasion it was limited to the hand and he's receiving the best medical treatment."

He said the details of how the injury occurred were not yet known.

"As chief, I always get upset when one of my own gets hurt and we wish a speedy recovery for that individual."

— Miles Proust

Dry lightning sparks fires in Gippsland and Alpine areas

Chris Hardman, from Forest Fire Management Victoria, said the Walwa fire has grown to just under 20,000 hectares.

"That fire will continue to grow and communities in that area need to keep a very close eye on that fire," he said.

Fire had also been sparked by dry lightning in Gippsland and the Alpine areas.

"There are currently 13 fires going in that footprint," he said.

He said a blaze near Dargo and Talbotville had been prioritised and firefighters were trying to contain it before high winds this afternoon.

There are also fires at Cabbage Tree and east of Mallacoota.

— Miles Proust