Victorians are being told to prepare for a three-day heatwave, with a maximum temperature of 42 degrees forecast in Mildura, as authorities warn of increased fire danger.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe heatwave warning in East Gippsland on Tuesday, with forecaster Christie Johnson saying towns in the state’s north-west would also be hit with sweltering temperatures.

Victorians are being urged to prepare for a three-day heatwave this week. Credit:Scott McNaughton

Overnight minimum temperatures will sit between the high teens and low 20s during the heatwave, which will last from Wednesday to Friday this week.

Mildura is expected to endure a scorcher, reaching a maximum of 42 degrees on Friday, the hottest forecast temperature in the state. Ouyen, Swan Hill and Echuca are also forecast for maximums of more than 40 degrees.

“We do have increased fire danger, particularly through parts of the Wimmera, Mallee and northern country area,” Johnson said.

Elsewhere in the state, BOM has issued a low-intensity heatwave warning, with temperatures expected to sit within the mid to high 30s across the three days. Melbourne is expected to reach a top of 35 degrees on Thursday.

“A low-intensity heatwave are events that we see quite often during summer, but it’s a situation where it can be dangerous for elderly or vulnerable people if proper precautions aren’t taken,” she said.

A cool change is expected for Friday afternoon, which will reach Melbourne between 2pm and 4pm, but will not reach Victoria’s north-east until Saturday.

“It’ll still be hot in the far north and north-east on Saturday. We’re getting up to 35 degrees for places like Albury and Wangaratta,” Johnson said.

She said there was a chance of thunderstorms ahead of the cool change in the central and east parts of the state, but are unlikely to be severe.

There will be an earlier reprieve from the heat for Melburnians, with the forecast for Saturday set to reach a maximum temperature of 22 degrees.

It will be a dry day for the majority of the state, except for the east, where scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop. Inclement conditions are expected in the afternoon, but will clear at night.

The increased fire danger may see further grass and bushfires across the state. On Tuesday, fire authorities responded to six bushfires across the state, all of which have been contained.

Among them was a five-hectare blaze in Melbourne’s north-west, near Tullamarine Airport, where more than 30 firefighting units, including three helicopters, battled the out-of-control grassfire in Bulla.

Three people were being assessed by paramedics for smoke inhalation, which was brought under control by 5pm.

The fire, which broke out at Loemans Road at about 2.30pm, damaged at least one structure. Emergency Management Victoria issued an update just after 5pm, saying firefighters had brought the blaze under control. Three people were assessed by paramedics for smoke inhalation.

WorkSafe Victoria also issued a reminder to employers to protect workers during days of extreme heat.

“Working in hot conditions can easily lead to dehydration and heat illnesses such as heat rash, fainting, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which is a life-threatening condition,” WorkSafe’s Narelle Beer said.

Beer said it was important employers took all possible measures to prevent or minimise the risk of heat illness.

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