A bushfire that destroyed a house and badly damaged another on the Mornington Peninsula may have been deliberately lit.
Police are on scene of the Crib Point fire that burnt down the home on Monday of a 72-year-old woman who was forced to flee on to a beach.
Another house was badly damaged, a garage and two sheds were razed and 80 hectares were burnt before the fire was brought under control on Tuesday morning.
Police told AAP the cause of the fire is suspicious but no charges have been laid.
A watch and act remains in place for the immediate area, near the Navy's primary training base, HMAS Cerberus.
"The lady that lived in the house that burnt down got out. She moved through the bush and went down a gully and got to Western Port Bay and was picked up in the water," Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley told the Nine Network on Tuesday.
Firefighters around the state are on high alert after total fire bans were declared in all districts except East Gippsland.
Strong winds are expected in the afternoon and temperatures are expected to reach 41 degrees in parts of the state.
"It's severe fire danger all the way down the South Australian border from Mildura to Portland and then it moves from Melbourne to Echuca to Central Victoria to the metropolitan area," Mr Lapsley said.
"People should prepare today for what is a significant fire day in Victoria."
AAP lac/lk/gb
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