Crews battle fires as March heat sizzles across country

People across the country have sweltered through unseasonal autumn heat as fire crews work to contain dozens of blazes. 

Total fire bans were in place along much of the eastern seaboard on Saturday, impacting Victoria and parts of NSW and South Australia.

Residents along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria's southwest were on high alert for much of the day, with a Watch and Act message in place for a blaze near Kenneth River.

Several other fires reached advice level before a cool change passed through the state on Saturday evening. 

Melbourne reached a top of 36.2C before the temperature dropped about 10 degrees at 5pm.

In NSW, a Watch and Act message was issued for the southeastern town of Berridale while more than 50 fires burned in other parts of the state. 

The Craigs Road fire in the southern tablelands has so far scorched more than 3689 hectares and destroyed property and livestock, with concerns strong winds could worsen conditions.

Another fire in the Upper Hunter at Sandy Creek has burned through 26ha but has been brought under control.

Sydneysiders are being warned to take care in the heat, with temperatures in western suburbs including Penrith climbing into the high 30s on Saturday.

NSW Police and emergency services issued a reminder for people to check in on more vulnerable members of the community including elderly neighbours.

Deputy Commissioner for Emergency Management Peter Thurtell said people should not underestimate the impact of prolonged heat exposure.

"While warmer weather may not concern some people, the heat can be especially dangerous for more vulnerable members of the community, including babies and children, older people, or those living with an illness," Deputy Commissioner Thurtell said.

The RSPCA also issued advice for pet owners to make sure their animals had access to plenty of fresh, cool water as well as shade.

Surf Life Saving Australia is asking people heading to waterways to take care after a record number of deaths on or around the water in summer.

The weather bureau says daily maximums in NSW this month have climbed as much as 15 degrees Celsius above the long-term average.

Queenslanders are in the middle of a sweaty three-day heatwave that began on Friday, with heatwave warnings for the state's southeast spreading to southern inland areas across the weekend.

Fire and emergency services have an advice warning to avoid smoke spreading from a fire burning at Inglewood, in the Goondiwindi Region.

There are also at least eight flood warnings for Queensland after recent heavy rains.

There were wind warnings for Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia, with extreme fire danger warnings in SA for the Flinders, Mid North and Riverland areas.

The bureau this week declared an end to the cooler, wetter La Nina weather pattern and issued a watch for El Nino, which is associated with drier conditions in Australia and an increased fire risk.