Fire warnings in Victoria and Tasmania as temperatures soar in nation's south-east

In Victoria, there is an emergency warning for a fire burning near the town of Beaufort, west of Ballarat.

Residents in the town and surrounding areas, including Bayindeen, Buangor, Glenlogie, Middle Creek and Mount Cole, have been warned to leave immediately.

"Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous," the Vic Emergency warning read.

An emergency warning was issued for residents near Ararat. (ABC News)

State Control Centre spokesperson Luke Hegarty told ABC Melbourne the intensity of the blaze was exacerbated by extreme weather conditions across the state.

"That fire is certainly building up a bit of steam based on the very hot weather and the strong winds that we're experiencing at the moment," he said.

Mr Hegarty warned that a forecast of storms and strong winds into the evening would also carry a risk of igniting further fires.

"There's a risk of some dry lightning coming through with those storms," he said.

Fire authorities said the fire near Mount Cole began in a forested area, before spreading to grasslands.(ABC News: Natalie Whiting )

"That wind change is definitely on its way, and it's a pretty strong wind change, which means that any new fires that have started are potentially going to be impacted."

Mr Hegarty said authorities were concerned with the number of spot fires surrounding the main blaze.

He told ABC Victoria Statewide Drive the fire began in a forested area, where it built up energy and developed a 10-kilometre-high smoke column.

Fire authorities warned strong winds could potentially exacerbate the fire risk throughout the day.(Supplied: Caitlyn Crothers)

There are multiple other fires burning around the Victoria, but all are at advice level or below.

In Tasmania, there is an emergency warning for the small community of Dee in the state's Central Highlands region.

The state's emergency authorities said the bushfire was expected to "put lives in danger" and possibly destroy homes as early as 3.30pm AEDT.

"If you don't have a safe route to a safer place, shelter inside the nearest building, regularly checking your surroundings and putting out any fires near the building until the fire passes," the warning read.

Southern regional fire chief Phil Smith told ABC that the location of the blaze made it difficult to battle.

"With the way the wind is, it could go in any direction given the nature of that area, because it's in a gully," Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith said all available aircraft and crews were working to contain the blaze.

Tasmanian fire crews battled a blaze which broke out in the Central Highlands.(Supplied: Ken Orr)

There is also a watch and act warning for nearby communities in Bradys Lake, Tarraleah and surrounds.

Other fires around the state are at or below advice level.

Victorian households still without power

Temperatures were expected to soar to 40 degrees Celsius in Victoria and 35C in Tasmania on Thursday.

The hot weather comes as several hundred Victorian households remain without power, after storm damage last week.

Almost 2,500 more Victorians were without power on Thursday afternoon.

The new outages are mainly in Melbourne's outer east. Ausnet expected those customers to come back online later today.

The BOM said conditions would not be as bad as last week, when more than 40 homes were destroyed by bushfires in the state's west.

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