Fire authorities are on alert

Friday has been declared a day of Total Fire Ban in the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, Northern Country, North Central, Central (includes Melbourne and Geelong), North East and West and South Gippsland district(s) of Victoria.

No fires can be lit or be allowed to remain alight in the open air from 12.01am on Friday (January 2) until 11.59 pm.

Saturday has also been declared a day of Total Fire Ban for the whole State of Victoria.

No fires can be lit or be allowed to remain alight in the open air from 12.01am on Saturday (January 3) until 11.59 pm.

Prolonged dry conditions and above average temperatures have further complicated what already shaped as a dangerous fire season.

District 16 operations officer Ian Morley said over the next couple of days fire crews could face their biggest test of the summer to date.

"This weekend is our biggest concern, we're in for a hot spell with temperatures nearing 40 degrees over a two day period, so we'd ask people to take extreme care with regard to their personal safety and fire safety," he said.

"We are at the peak of the fire season, grass and vegetation - fuel for any fire is at its driest at the moment.

"We also have a deficiency of water across the district and this makes the job of fire suppression much more difficult.

"So we ask people during the holiday period just to be so cautious and careful with fire.

"We also ask people who are out and about, people who might be having a barbecue or lighting a camp fire to please familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations to do with fire."

In the lead up to Christmas firefighters responded to several preventable instances of fire.

On the evening of December 22 crews were alerted to a camp fire which had spread to nearby grass and scrub and a tree in the vicinity of the Western Highway at Middle Creek.

The blaze sent a small amount of smoke across the highway but was quickly extinguished by crews from the Buangor and Beaufort brigades. The same tree re ignited the following day but was again swiftly contained.

On the same day fire crews attended an illegal burn off in a residential area of Stawell. The person responsible was served with a penalty notice for the fire that was lit in a backyard in Cahill Road.

Mr Morley said despite the lack of water at major catchments including Green Hill Lake, Lake Lonsdale and Lake Bolac crews have the ability to battle any outbreak of fire as quickly as possible.

"Our fire brigades and aircraft are very versatile," he said.

"We have large capacity pumps for the brigades and our fixed wing bombers operate off a reticulated supply.

"Our helicopters and other aircraft need that open water but obviously they benefit from being able to cover large distances in a short amount of time.

"I am confident our personnel can compensate as best they can for the lack of water, but it certainly makes our job a lot harder when supplies aren't plentiful."

Water bombers were used to douse a fire at Ercildoune, near Ballarat that burnt through more than 100 hectares of farmland on Sunday.

Twenty five fire tankers and three aircraft battled to bring the blaze under control, which was sparked by harvesting activity in the area.

"We know a lot of harvesting activity has been completed but there is still some work ongoing and we'd ask property owners and farmers to take care," Mr Morley said.

Residents are also reminded to report any suspicious activity to authorities.

Police are investigating the circumstances of a fire in Thornfeldt Street, Stawell on December 28.

The fire, which has been deemed to be undetermined, took hold in grassland at around 3am before it was quickly brought under control.