The Latest Breaking News from Jason Heffernan

Conditions to intensify in Victoria and South Australia, with temperatures forecast to climb towards 40C and strong wind gusts up to 100km/h

Victorian capital to swelter through 41C heat on Monday as BoM issues extreme heatwave warnings for NT and northern Queensland

The Country Fire Authority has called on Victorians to register and monitor their private burn-offs in preparation for this year's bushfire season.

Fire season is under way as blazes burn across the country driven by volatile conditions with total fire bans in parts of WA, South Australia, Victoria and NSW.

Bushfires have battered the state of Victoria over the weekend leaving a home destroyed as the state now prepares for flash flooding.

Australia is facing its first dry summer in three years and the fuel load is high

Victoria's Country Fire Authority is still battling to control a blaze at Flowerdale, north of Melbourne, which has burnt 900 hectares, while a second grassfire is threatening communities at Buangor in the state's west.

An uncontrolled grassfire north of Melbourne is burning for a third day but no property has been damaged so far despite the blaze growing.

The Country Fire Authority's last annual report shows a net loss of 1,381 volunteers in the 12 months to June, but its chief officer says there are more than enough volunteers to respond to incidents this bushfire season.