TWO houses were lost and firefighters battled to save others last night as Victoria sweltered through one of its hottest New Year's eves.More than 275 firefighters fought huge out-of-control bushfires at Stawell, Glenhope and between Bonnie Doon and Maindample.
Scrub fires burned at Monkey Creek, near Stradbroke, and Avenel, and there was an open-cut mine fire at Morwell.
Many residents evacuated their properties ahead of the major fires.
In Stawell, two properties had been destroyed by the early evening, with others severely threatened.
By 7.30pm the fire had spread to Illawarra Forest.
"It's very scary out there," a CFA spokesman said.
For the first time this summer, the CFA's Skycrane water bomber, known as was called into action.
About 125 firefighters, 20 trucks and three aircraft were battling to save homes in Stawell, where the fire was burning across 800ha on a 3km front east of Lake Lonsdale.
At Glenhope, 22km northwest of Lancefield in central Victoria, 30 fire trucks, 150 firefighters and two aircraft brought the blaze under control about 6.30pm.
About 120 firefighters, 15 trucks and two aircraft were fighting the Bonnie Doon fire, which was travelling in a southerly direction and could threaten residents and campers at Geelong Hill and Neely Point.
The fires were fuelled by southeast winds and soaring temperatures.
Once the fires were raging, the CFA called on families to stay inside their homes.
The fires began in the late afternoon and the causes were not known last night.
In Melbourne, the temperature hit 42.9C (109F) at 5.19pm – the hottest New Year's Eve for more than a century.
Walpeup, Horsham and Hopetoun in Victoria's northwest recorded the state's highest official temperature – 46C.
"It's certainly the hottest December since 1855, when records first began," senior weather forecaster Ward Rooney said.
Walpeup general store owner Kerry Norris said: "It is shocking, absolutely unreal – it's the hottest I've been in."
One Walpeup resident measured the temperature at 48C under her back veranda.
At Ouyen, where locals measured temperatures to 47C, travellers and campers sought refuge at the pub.
Mildura publican Murray Mammoney said revellers had packed the hotel early in the afternoon, seeking airconditioned relief.
"It is so hot it is not funny," Mr Mammoney, who owns the Mildura Brewery Pub, said.
"It is too hot to have barbecues or do anything outside – so it is a big day for us."
An unusual pressure trough formed a moving micro-climate over Melbourne.
This lifted lifted temperatures above 40C in northern suburbs, while keeping southern suburbs up to 10C cooler.
By late morning, the weather bureau had revised its forecast to 33C for the city, but by 4pm temperatures rocketed towards 43C.
Weather forecasters predicted a late morning cool change today.
the temp for Melbourne today is 33C i have seen a couple of bad bushfires i passed through the adeliade hills after ash wednesday in 83 when 76 people lost there live's in south australia and victoria i rem that year because it was the first major bushfires since i had arrived in aus the nearest one to us was about 30 kms away so we were never in danger . then in 94 i was going through New South Wales while they were having their big fires we had to get off the train and go by bus it was an awsome display of power from mother nature .Some fires actually get lit by people how could someone get a buzz from all that destrustion is beyond me . so i hope they get a cool change in vic to help the c.f.a who are all volenteers who do such a great job.