The Country Fire Authority has given the Mallee a ‘severe’ fire rating for Wednesday.

A total fire ban has also been declared for northern country, north east and north central.

No fires can be lit or be allowed to remain alight in the open air from 12:01am until 11:59pm. 

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said there would be hot, dry and windy conditions and if fires started, they could be uncontrollable.

“February is traditionally our most dangerous in a fire sense because it is when the state is most dry and when fires can do serious damage,” he said.

“While there has been some rain across parts of Victoria, many areas remain dry, particularly in central and western Victoria.

“It is also important to remember that north of the divide it has been hot for days and even weeks and we’re only in the middle of February – we could see a fire season run for many more weeks yet.”​