Fire and Rescue NSW says it's concerned some fires are being deliberately lit on the NSW Mid North Coast.

The Taree Fire Station Captain Anthony Shoesmith said there had been a number of grass and bush fires along the outskirts of local housing areas in recent days.

He said it appeared some of the fires had been deliberately lit and urged people to consider the potential impact on life and properties.

"In Taree overnight we had quite a few fires deliberately lit unfortunately, but we managed to get those under control," he said.

"It is a dangerous act to light a fire, the wind can change direction, it can cause property damage, endanger life, so it is concerning for us."

Blazes have threatened homes, farms and major roads, with extreme fire dangers forecast for parts of NSW.

Senior BOM meteorologist Dean Narramore said areas of most concern were eastern and central NSW where the extreme dangers were forecast.

You can read the full coverage of New South Wales' bushfires here: 

Despite the soaring temperatures, more than 130 people still turned out for their weekly parkrun at Green Point Reserve in Lake Macquarie today.

Event co-director Peter Scotchmer said it takes a lot more than hot weather to deter the dedicated runners and volunteers.

“It’s a challenge in this weather but people still love it,” he said.

“And now [they have finished] they’ll all go and grab a coffee or a drink together.”

Lake Macquarie is set to reach 39 degrees today. 

Reporting by Keely Johnson

There are a number of fires in New South Wales and NSW RFS are still working to contain nine. 

If warnings are issued they will be broadcast on your local ABC radio

You can get updates about the following bushfires on these ABC radio stations:

NSW

Bulahdelah fire

• ABC Newcastle 1233AM
• ABC listen
• ABC Mid North Coast 684AM
• ABC listen

Beni bushfire

• ABC Western Plains NSW on 95.9FM
• ABC listen

You can also view the latest warnings here.

TAS

Dolphin Sands fire

• ABC Hobart 936 AM
•  ABC listen

You can also view the latest on fires near you here.

Hundreds of people have escaped to Bar Beach in Newcastle to deal with today’s hot weather.

There’s a severe heatwave impacting the Hunter region of New South Wales, with temperatures set to reach 39 degrees in Newcastle and 41 in Singleton.

Good luck getting a park!

Reporting by Keely Johnson from ABC Newcastle

Victorians will experience much cooler conditions today and only two fires remain burning in the state. 

The Patchewollock fire rating  is Stay Informed and Markwood is a Watch and Act. 

You can look at the state's current incidents and warnings here. 

Tasmanian fire crews are still responding to multiple bushfires across the state's south, with efforts to bring a major fire at Dolphin Sands under control. 

Tasmania Fire Service Regional Chief Operations Southern Region Simon Pilkington said the dangerous weather conditions of the past few days were expected to ease this weekend, which will help firefighters control the fires.

However, the fire at Dolphin Sands remains uncontained as of this morning and a Watch and Act Warning is in place, with the community advised it is not safe to return.

Current warnings from the TFS are:

•  Bushfire Watch & Act - Dolphin Sands – Not safe to return

•  Bushfire Advice - Glenlusk - Monitor conditions

•  Bushfire Advice - Colebrook - Monitor conditions

•  Bushfire Advice - Levendale - Monitor conditions

•  Bushfire Advice - Rhyndaston - Monitor conditions

As of 9am this morning, there are 57 bushfires currently burning in New South Wales with nine yet to be contained. 

Firefighters and incident management personnel are continuing their work to strengthen containment lines around these fires.

A Total Fire Ban is now in place for the Greater Sydney Region, Greater Hunter, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Central Ranges, North Western, Upper Central West Plains, Northern Riverina, Lower Central West Plains and Eastern Riverina.

Today the state is bracing for more hot, dry and windy conditions with areas of Extreme and High fire danger. 

Good morning and welcome to today's live coverage of the extreme heat expected in several areas of Australia today. 

The first heatwave of the summer will reach its peak across New South Wales, with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius likely to span from Western Australia's north-west all the way to Parramatta.

The heatwave has also sparked an extreme fire danger warning for large parts of NSW.

It's the first taste of what's likely to be a hot summer for most of the country, according to the Bureau of Meteorology's long-range outlook.

Join us on the blog today as we bring you the latest warnings and how people are staying cool and safe.