![Country Fire Authority trucks on a Victorian regional road. Picture by Morgan Hancock Country Fire Authority trucks on a Victorian regional road. Picture by Morgan Hancock](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/194363481/6c0124b6-d218-4373-962c-7064cc54f476.jpg/r0_184_3456_2127_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A total fire ban has been declared across Victoria as the state braces for one of the hottest days this summer.
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Extreme fire danger warnings have been issued for the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, South West and Central fire districts on Feburary 22, the Bureau of Meterology (BOM) said.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Heffernan said that while no catastrophic warning had been issued, there were "lots of extreme risk areas".
"Have that bushfire survival plan ready and Vic Emergency App handy," he said.
Hot, dry and gusty north to northwesterly winds were forecast in the morning by BOM.
"A cooler southwesterly change" was expected to move across the state during the afternoon and into the evening.
Thunderstorms, forecast to develop around central and eastern parts of the State, could increase the dangerous fire weather, BOM said.
Temperatures were expected to rise above 40 degrees Celcius in Mildura and surrounding towns.
Bushfires in Victoria
Residents of Bayindeen, Buangor, Glenlogie, Middle Creek, Mount Cole, Mount Lonarch and Raglan have been told to prepare for evacuation as a bushfire in Warrak on Rocky Road was yet to be contained.
The blaze is travelling in a south-easterly direction, Vic Emergency said.
Emergency alerts have also been issued for Buangor East, Chute, Eurambeen, Main Lead and Waterloo as the fire spreads.
This comes after a devastating day of extreme weather on February 13 when more than 44 homes were burned by multiple blazes in the Grampians National Park and half a million houses were disconnected from power.
"While we're not expecting to see the same conditions as last week, we are expecting to see a challenging day," CFA deputy chief officer Rohan Luke said.
"The temperatures are increasing and it will be a dynamic situation, so we're asking people to be vigilant," he said.