Community members should remain "vigilant" around high risk fire activities even this late in the season, according to CFA District Two operations officer Ashley Baker.
Several days in the high-30s are forecast for the week ahead.
Mr Baker said that fire risk was still "very evident," with forest fuel and grasses dry.
Read more: Recklessly lit fires still a concern
Maximum temperatures of above 35 degrees are expected from Tuesday, with a tops of 38 forecast on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Chris Godfred said the prolonged heat was caused by a slow-moving high pressure system sitting over south east Australia.
Mr Godfred said the heat would likely break on Sunday or Monday.
The heatwave is not likely to be as severe as during January, he said.
The first month of 2019 broke temperature records. At least 17 days exceeded 35 degrees, compared to an average of 6.2.
"In terms of the actual intensity of the heat it’s not quite as severe as what we saw during January," Mr Godfred said.
"Temperatures for the next week peak close to 40 for Bendigo. That’s certainly nowhere near the levels we saw when it was getting up into the 40s some days."
Mr Baker said community members should remain vigilant, and avoid activities like slashing grass or welding on high risk days.
He said the likelihood of a fire starting would depend on conditions on the day.
"As per a normal year, a normal summer, we’ve just got to be vigilant around fire risk activities," Mr Baker said.
"We were lucky locally that we didn’t receive any fires around this area [in January].
"We’ll do some work around what it’s going to look like over the next week, and we’ll have people prepared appropriately."
He urged people to stay up to date with emergency information at emergency.vic.gov.au.
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
