Communities and firefighters across Australia’s second-most populous state are preparing for potentially devastating wildfires as a heatwave fanned by erratic winds presented the worst fire conditions in years.

With temperatures in Victoria reaching 37C and with wind changes expected throughout the day, fire chiefs have issued warnings to rural communities to delay travel or leave their homes and seek safety at shelters.

Several fires are burning out of control across the state and Victoria deputy premier Ben Carroll said the possibility for further fires in coming days is likely.

“Dangerous fire conditions are forming today and will go right through to Saturday,” he said at a press conference in Melbourne. “New fires can start anywhere and become dangerous very quickly.”

The largest uncontained fire is in the Grampians National Park and has burnt through 55,000 hectares so far, but no homes are reported to have been lost.

Emergency management commissioner Rick Nugent said many residential properties on the fringes of the fire could come under threat.

“I wouldn’t be surprised at some point if we do have residential losses,” he said. “Firefighters, I can say, are doing everything possible to protect life and protect property.”

Residents were told: “You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately, as it is too late to leave.”

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported around 100 personnel from other Australian states are in Victoria to assist local firefighters battling the blazes. Crews are being assisted by scores of water-bombing aircraft.

Parts of neighbouring South Australia and New South Wales states are also on high alert due to the heatwave and elevated fire risks.

The hot, dry conditions are being compared to the Black Summer fires that gripped Australia’s two most populous states for months in 2019-20, burning through 40 thousand square miles, killing 33 people and destroying thousands of homes.