Emergency level bushfire downgraded as cool change sweeps across Victoria
Fire crews are continuing to battle an out-of-control blaze in central Victoria, following a day of extreme fire danger.
The fire, burning south-west of Creswick, has since been downgraded from an emergency warning to an advice message.
Residents in Dean, Newlyn, Newlyn North, Springmount, Clarkes Hill, and Wattle Flat have been urged to closely monitor conditions.
Visit the VicEmergency website for the latest emergency advice and warnings
A relief centre is currently open at the Doug Lindsay Reserve, Lindsay Park Drive, Creswick.
Authorities across the state were put on high alert yesterday as temperatures soared.
Melbourne's CBD hit a peak temperature of 38.8 degrees about 6pm before a cool change crossed western Victoria.
Walpeup, in the Mallee region, recorded a top 47.1 degrees, marking its second-highest December temperature on record.
At one stage yesterday, Walpeup became one of the hottest places on earth.
READ MORE: Salvation Army gearing up for 'hardest Christmas' in 140-year history
Fire crews are continuing to battle an out-of-control blaze in central Victoria. Supplied
Geelong and Ballarat both recorded their highest temperatures for this time of year, reaching 42.3 degrees and 40.8 degrees respectively.
The heat also sparked multiple grass fires yesterday, including a fire near West Gate Bridge.
Motorists were alerted to passing smoke across the West Gate Bridge after a grass and scrub fire broke out in bushland beneath the bridge.
Callers to triple zero reported multiple trees on fire near the Bay Trail in Port Melbourne just after 10 am, which quickly expanded to encompass three different fires moving in a south-westerly direction.
Nearly 50 firefighters and a water bombing helicopter worked to contain the blazes, which spread both north and south of the West Gate Freeway.
READ MORE: Mum, daughter 'poisoned' in Fiji land in Australia
Much of Victoria will experience cooler temperatures today, with Melbourne and Ballarat reaching a high of 24 degrees.
Meanwhile, Mildura will see a top of 32 degrees, while Shepparton and Albury-Wodonga will reach 31 degrees.
However, temperatures are expected to rise again in the next couple of days, with 35 degrees forecast for Friday.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
