Residents have been told they are allowed to return to their homes after a grassfire that was burning out of control in Melbourne's north-west was contained by firefighters.
A watch and act alert issued on Monday afternoon was downgraded to an advice warning for the suburbs of Sydenham, Sydenham Park, Keilor North, Hillside, Taylors Hill, Calder Park and Taylors Lakes at 5:34pm.
The fire blackened parts of the parkland near Rowlandson Place in Taylors Lakes before it was brought under control by firefighters.
Residents who lived directly next to the grassland were told to move quickly two or more streets away from the fire.
People who lived two or more streets away from the grassland were told to shelter indoors, close all exterior doors, windows and vents, and turn of cooling systems.
On the hottest day of the year so far for Melbourne, temperatures reached 36.7 degrees Celsius at Olympic Park at 3:21pm, and 36C at Melbourne Airport shortly before that.
A total fire ban is in place for the Mallee, Wimmera and Northern Country districts for the day.
There is a very high fire danger rating in place for the South West, North Central and Central districts, which includes Melbourne.
In the North East, West & South Gippsland and East Gippsland districts, a high fire danger rating is in place.
While fewer bushfires are forecast this summer than the horrific blazes that marked the Black Summer, authorities are concerned the risk of grassfires will be higher.
A watch and act warning was in place on Monday night for a fire burning at a steel recycler on Dohertys Road in Laverton, in the city's west.
Residents on several streets in Laverton North and Laverton were urged to take shelter indoors and close doors, windows and air vents to avoid the smoke.
