Victoria's fire authority has declared its first total fire ban of the season to the state's northwest, with the same order active across the border in seven South Australian regions.
The Mallee is forecast to experience temperatures in the mid 30s, strong and gusty winds and a thunderstorms risk on Thursday.
With a severe fire danger rating, the Country Fire Authority has declared the region will be subject to a total fire ban for Thursday.
It means no open air fire can be lit or remain alight from 12.01am to 11.59pm, and strict rules also apply for use of farm machinery, chainsaws and lawn mowers.
While the outlook for this fire season indicates a lower threat of prolonged bushfires, grass and crop blazes remain a high risk across the state after average-above average rainfall and strong fuel growth.
"Overall, we've had milder conditions leading into this fire season, but we can't afford to be complacent about these hot and windy days where the fire danger spikes," CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said in a statement on Wednesday.
A very high fire danger rating is forecast for the nearby Wimmera region on Thursday, while it is deemed high for the Northern Country and South West and low-moderate for the rest of the state.
With the mercury also tipped to soar in SA, total fire bans are current in Northwest Pastoral, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, Mid North, Yorke Peninsula, Riverland, Murraylands districts.
The Bureau of Meteorology says maximum temperatures will rise up to 10C above average in the state's north by Friday.
