UPDATE 8pm: A grass fire north of Rochester is under control.
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At about 6.45pm the CFA was alerted to a scrub and grass fire at Restdown Road.
11 fire units attended the scene and the fire was declared under control at 7.46pm.
No houses were damaged in the fire and the cause is yet to be determined.
UPDATE 5pm: Hundreds of people are without power across central Victoria.
A fallen tree at Maiden Gully has cut power to Powercor customers in Maiden Gully, Newbridge, Llanelly, Arnold, Murphys Creek, Woodstock, Arnold West, Tarnagulla, Leichardt, Bridgewater, Derby, Myers Flat, Campbells Forest, Marong, Wilsons Hill, Shelbourne, and Woodstock West.
Powercor has listed the estimated restoration time as 5.30pm.
More than 500 premises in Woodend, 685 in Mount Macedon and 787 in Macedon are expected to remain without power until about 7.30pm.
The cause of that outage is not known.
UPDATE 4.40pm: Firefighters have been called to at least three fires in the region in the past hour.
About 3.50pm, the CFA was alerted to a smoke sighting on the Bridgewater-Maldon Road at Nuggetty.
Firefighters discovered the smoke was issuing from a structure fire.
Sixteen vehicles have attended the blaze, which was brought under control about 4.20pm.
Shortly before 4pm, firefighters were called to a grass and scrub fire on the Calder Highway, just before Marong.
It was reported under control about 4.05pm, with a total of nine vehicles attending.
Then about 4.20pm, a fire was reported just up the road from the structure fire, at Baringhup.
It has since been contained.
A community information alert has been issued for residents in the Nuggetty, Baringhup, Baringhup WEst, Maldon, Perkins Reef, Shelbourne and Tarrengower areas in relation to the Nuggetty structure fire.
People are advised smoke will be visible nearby, but there is no immediate threat to the community.
Anyone who needs medical advice for smoke exposure can call Nurse On Call on 1300 606 024; if a person experiences wheezing, chest tightness or difficulty breathing, they should call triple zero.
UPDATE 2.25pm: There is no doubt today is hot, but even if Bendigo reaches its forecast maximum, it still will not be the hottest day the city has seen.
The mercury hit 45.4 degrees on Black Saturday: February 7, 2009.
Many towns and cities across the state reached record temperatures that day, including Horsham, which sweltered in 47.4-degree heat.
UPDATE 1.56pm: A severe weather warning for damaging winds has been issued for part of the state.
The warning area, which skims the southern reaches of the region, can expect winds averaging 60 to 70km/h with peak gusts of 90km/h when this evening’s wind change moves through.
Winds are expected to ease within an hour of the wind change.
People in the warning area are advised to move vehicles under cover or away from trees, secure or put away loose items, and keep clear of fallen power lines.
The next warning will be issued by 5pm.
UPDATE 1.05pm: People have been urged to stay inside and stay cool by emergency services, as the temperature in Bendigo rises above 38 degrees.
The Bendigo incident control centre is up and running, with Forest Fire Management Victoria, CFA, SES and police in attendance in case of emergency.
Other agencies such as VicRoads and the Department of Health and Human Services are also present at the regional control centre, also based in Bendigo.
More than 1000 firefighters are waiting on call in the footprint of the Bendigo incident control centre alone.
Incident controller Les Vearing said weather conditions were “really bad” from a fire perspective, with hot temperatures, dry air and wind, with a wind change later this afternoon that could transform a small fire into a much larger one.
Mr Vearing said the conditions meant that fires could result in spot fires five to 10 kilometres ahead of the main blaze, which would make it impossible to put out.
The conditions would also make it dangerous for firefighters in the event of fire, he said.
Mr Vearing urged anyone camping to check any campfires were completely extinguished.
He said it was essential that people refrained from mowing grass, as any spark from machinery or equipment would ignite a fire.
“Don’t do anything outside unless you have to,” Mr Vearing said.
“It’s a really good day to be sitting inside, by the air-conditioner.”
He said people should also avoid travelling unless necessary, until the day cooled.
Mr Vearing advises people stay updated on what is happening and go over fire plans or think about what they would do in the event of a fire.
He also suggested it would be a good idea for those in a fire-prone area to leave home and spend the day with friends or in town.
This evening’s cool change is expected to hit Bendigo between 7pm and 9pm.
UPDATE 11.50am: Temperatures in Bendigo have already reached the high 30s.
At 11.30am, the recorded temperature at Bendigo Airport was 36.6 degrees, although it felt like just 30.5 degrees.
Redesdale has also hit 36 degrees.
UPDATE 10.43am: Pet owners should ensure their animals have plenty of cool, clean water and access to shady, well-ventilated areas today.
This is especially important for people with older pets, animals with thick coats or short noses, or pets adapted to cooler climates, as they are more at risk of suffering heat-related illness and even death on hot days.
Animals requiring exercise should be exercised during cool parts of the day, and owners should avoid walking them on hot paths and roads.
Animals should never be left unattended in a car.
In a parked car, an animal can suffer heat stroke or brain damage, and even die, in as little as four to six minutes.
If anyone finds a pet in a hot car, call police on triple zero: police officers have the power to break into vehicles to rescue animals suffering heat exposure.
Farmers should also ensure animals have adequate shelter, water and care.
Livestock should not be handled or transported during extreme heat.
If this is unavoidable, people should plan to avoid handling or transporting their livestock during the hottest times of day, and must schedule access to water and frequent rest stops in the shade.
More information about caring for animals in extreme heat can be found online here.
Saturday 9.22am: Authorities are getting ready for potential fires, with central Victoria to swelter in high heat on Saturday.
The forecast of hot, dry weather coupled with wind has seen fire danger ratings of severe to extreme placed across the region, and a total fire ban has been imposed across the whole state.
An incident control centre will operate in Bendigo today, one of three to be established in the Loddon Mallee.
A regional control centre will also operate.
Heat health alerts have also been issued for the North Central and Central forecast districts, which include Castlemaine, Maryborough and Kyneton.
Heat health alerts are issued when the Chief Health Officer determines that the forecast heat conditions will likely have an impact on health.
A top of 43 degrees has been forecast for Bendigo.
Echuca and Redesdale are also expected to hit 43 degrees, while Maryborough is set to reach 42, Castlemaine 41, and Kyneton 39.
Stay up-to-date with fire and weather conditions throughout the day at the Vic Emergency website.
More to come.