Two bushfire alerts warning residents to prepare to evacuate have been issued on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria’s south-west as the state endures the most dangerous day for fire conditions since the Black Summer fires.

Residents of Kennett River, between the popular holiday spots of Lorne and Apollo Bay, were told to prepare to evacuate just before 1pm Saturday as winds threatened to flip a benign nearby bushfire into an out-of-control blaze.

Earlier, Eastern View and Memorial Arch residents near Aireys Inlet received a similar watch-and-act warning. This has now been extended to Moggs Creek and Big Hill, but the fire is still under control, according to VicEmergency.

An out-of-control bushfire was briefly burning just north of Seymour in central Victoria, causing a watch-and-act to be issued at 2pm for the towns of Hilldene and Northwood. However, this has been downgraded to an advice message, and Seymour itself – which was inundated by flooding last year – has been told there is no immediate threat, but residents should stay informed.

Much of Lorne itself was under an advice message on Saturday for an under-control fire one kilometre north of the town, but the alert tells residents there is currently no threat.

Melbourne’s weather is expected to reach 37 degrees, but the temperature at 3.41pm in the city was 32.7 degrees, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan told Channel Nine northerly winds were expected to hit 90 km/h in elevated parts of the state, with temperatures to hit the high 30s, causing challenging firefighting conditions.

Total fire bans are active for western, central and northern parts of Victoria – only the Gippsland and north-east areas are exempt. Extreme fire danger ratings have also been issued for the Wimmera, South West, North Central and Central districts.