Seven South Australian districts have been issued an extreme fire danger rating on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to hit up to 45 degrees in some regions.

The Flinders, Mid North, Mount Lofty Ranges, Riverland, Murrayland, Upper and Lower South East all have total fire bans today, with high temperatures and 45 degrees forecast for Renmark.

Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs urged South Australians to be alert to the dangers after what has been a mild summer.

“It is entirely reasonable for the community to have enjoyed what has been some respite this summer, and we are days away from autumn,” he said.

“(But) complacency must be parked to the side. We are, as a state, facing some serious conditions.”

It comes as Victorians in the state’s west are warned about catastrophic fire conditions as a bushfire continues to burn.

The Bayindeen bushfire, northwest of Ballarat, was still raging on Wednesday after authorities released a map showing the fire could rip through areas including Beaufort, Elmhurst, Amphitheatre, Lexton, Learmonth and Clunes.

Forecast temperatures in the high 30s and wind gusts of up to 80km/h in the area were expected to fan the flames.

The fire had burned through more than 21,300 hectares as of Tuesday.

Residents were warned to get out by Wednesday morning, while those in regions with extreme fire danger were also told to flee.

The areas with an extreme fire danger rating on Wednesday were the Mallee, Northern Country, North Central, Central and South West regions.

Mildura was set to reach 44C and other areas were also expected to creep into the 40Cs before a cool change approached central parts of Victoria after 8pm.

Residents fleeing danger zones were urged to go to built-up areas such as Ballarat, Ararat and Maryborough.

Victoria Police strategic commander Jason Templar told a Pyrenees Shire Council meeting at Beaufort on Tuesday afternoon rapid deployment teams would be ready to close roads on Wednesday.

“The messaging around being out and being out early is so important because once those roads close, that’s it,” he said.

Beaufort’s urgent care centre was closed on Wednesday and the Bayindeen bushfire threatened to cut power to homes if it came over the Western Highway.

Pyrenees Shire Council mayor Robert Vance warned his constituents, “this beast is a reality”.

“When the beast is gone (and) he’s blacked out, we’ll be around to help everybody,” he said.

About 500 firefighters were again expected on the ground, with more than 60 aircraft ready to fight the blaze and any fresh fires.

The NSW Rural Fire Service – which has deployed 25 fire trucks and 110 of its own firefighters to help battle the Bayindeen blaze – has additional aircraft on standby close to the Victorian border.

The Bayindeen fire in Victoria has so far destroyed six homes but more are expected to be accounted for once conditions subside.

– with AAP