One of the biggest fires was started by rural fire brigades as a controlled burn two days ago about 80km north of Melbourne, but strong winds and high temperatures helped the blaze jump containment lines and push it across a wider area, broadcaster ABC reported.

There were about 100 bushfires burning across the state, but the biggest threat to property was in central Victoria around Lancefield, Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley told ABC.

The fire was approximately 2 500ha in size, Victoria’s emergency fire service said in its warning notice.

“It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately,” the emergency notice said.

Hercules planes which can dump huge amounts of water are being used to beat the flames back from towns in the area.

Australia’s east has been hit with temperatures 10 degrees above the average for October with records broken in many inland regions.

Temperatures in western Sydney reached 38.6°C on Tuesday and Melbourne hit a record for early October of 34.4°C.