mmg.com.au

After a brief respite, the fire danger ramps up again today, with a temperature of 41°C expected for Shepparton.

There is a total fire ban across Victoria as temperatures climb accompanied by north to north-westerly winds of up to 30km/h.

Currawa Country Fire Authority Captain Paul Prater will again have strike teams on stand-by to respond to fires in the Dookie hills, which are tinder dry after weeks of extreme weather.

‘‘It is the same scenario again,’’ he said of what is proving to be a hot summer.

‘‘We will make sure there are crews around and the same goes for the weekend.’’

Mr Prater said the conditions have deteriorated with the extended run of hot weather and the lack of rainfall.

‘‘When you step on it (the grass) it crunches, it is that dry,’’ he said.

The fire danger will still be present tomorrow, with temperatures remaining in the low to mid-30°C range before another cooler change sweeps across Victoria on Sunday.

The change won’t be as dry as the last one, with isolated showers and temperatures in the high 20°C range forecast for the region.