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TOTAL fire bans are in force across four states today as heatwave conditions continue across southern Australia.

The 24-hour bans affect South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and the South Western and Southern Riverina regions in the far south-west of New South Wales.

Temperatures soared into the high 30s for the 11th consecutive day in Adelaide yesterday- an unwelcome record for an Australian capital city. At 3.18pm the mercury in the city hit 39.7C. meaning Adelaide had been hotter for longer than any other Australian capital on record. The previous record was set by Perth in 1988.

And the heatwave is set to continue. Last night was Adelaide`s warmest March night on record, the minimum temperature of 30.2C being 6C higher than the average maximum for this month.

Forecasters are expecting today to be another scorcher with temperatures approaching 40C across most of South Australia.

Yesterday, one home was destroyed and nine firefighters were injured as a bushfire roared through 135ha near Willunga, south of Adelaide. Dozens of properties are still under threat as forecasters predict as wind gusts of up to 50km/h.

More than 160 firefighters are now at the scene of the bushfire. The SES has been brought in to fell gum trees one worker described as "like chimneys" in an effort to rob the fire of fuel.

South Australia Acting Premier Kevin Foley cut short a trip to the eastern states to be in Adelaide during the emergency and this morning is taking a briefing from senior firefighters.

Country Fire Service incident controller Daniel Austin said the strong winds and extreme heat might prevent the CFS from containing the raging fire.

"We`ll obviously be with the fire until it is declared safe, and that might take a couple of days or even longer, particularly given the weather conditions that we are expecting over the next four or five days," he said.

The main power utility for Adelaide, ETSA, said it could not guarantee electricity supplies after consumption set a record yesterday.

Last night, the South Australian Environment Department took the rare step of closing every National Park and reserve in the Mount Lofty Ranges and on the Fleurieu Peninsula for 24 hours.

Health authorities reported about 15 to 20 mostly elderly people were going to public hospitals every day of the heatwave, complaining of heat-related problems, most often dehydration.

In Melbourne the mercury hit 38.7C yesterday with hot wind still blowing into the early evening.

Several places in country Victoria recorded a top of 41C, but spare a thought for the V8 Supercar drivers at Albert Park, who suffered a track temperature of 46C during yesterday`s first practice.

The sizzling conditions will continue today with an expected top of 40C. A late afternoon southerly will bring some relief before temperatures soar again early next week. .

A total fire ban is now in force for all of Victoria.

Paramedics warned Victorians to be careful saying they has already responded to at least seven heat-related cases.

A total fire has been declared for the whole of Tasmania tomorrow due to forecast hot, dry and windy conditions.

Tasmania Fire Service chief officer John Gledhill said the state-wide ban was in the best safety interests of the community given the extreme weather conditions forecast.

Temperatures in the low-30s and high-20s are forecast across most of the state with gusty north-west winds.

New South Wales

A total fire ban has been declared for the NSW south-western region and the Southern Riverina area in the state`s far south-west.

The NSW Rural Fire Brigade Service advises its 24-hour ban starts at midnight tonight.

With AAP, The Australian, Herald Sun, The Mercury, The Advertiser

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