‘It’s no good to anybody speculating’ about how many people have died, PM Hipkins says.

Hipkins is due to speak at 5.30pm.

Tonight’s show marking the opening of the Sir Howard Morrison Centre has been cancelled.

Temperatures have plunged by 10 degrees in Melbourne as a cool change sweeps across the city after the hottest day in four years – but the heatwave is continuing in the rest of the country.

The temperature in the centre of Melbourne reached 39.2 degrees at 3.20pm on Friday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, marking the first time it has passed 38 since 2018.

At the same time, the temperature at Melbourne Airport hit 40.6 degrees.

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A fire broke out alongside the Monash Freeway in Hawthorn in inner Melbourne about 1.45pm amid the high heat, causing significant traffic delays with three outbound lanes of the freeway having to be closed.

Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control by 2.25pm.

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But by 5pm temperatures had plunged to 25 degrees at Melbourne Airport as the forecast cool change swept through.

In Melbourne's CBD temperatures plummeted to just 23 degrees at 5pm.

Narramore said it was a tale of two extremes in the country as the Top End and northern Queensland see heavy rain and flooding while the west and south swelter through a heatwave.

"The heat has been sitting in Western Australia for a few weeks but now the heat is dragged to central and south-east parts of the country over the last few days," he said.

The heat peaked yesterday in South Australia when Adelaide reached 40 degrees as an out-of-control bushfire broke out in Port Lincoln in the state's Eyre Peninsula.

The extreme fire danger conditions sparked a total fire ban for Central and North Central districts from the Country Fire Authority.

For the weekend, the heatwave is set to move into NSW bringing a peak of 31 degrees in Sydney on Saturday and up to 38 degrees in the city's western suburbs.

Water temperatures will also be lovely in Sydney this weekend in the mid to upper 20s as the heatwave brings people in droves to the beaches.

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The heat will move into southern Queensland too over the weekend and early next week.

The heatwave is bringing an elevated fire danger with high to extreme warnings for central Victoria today and more to come for NSW at the weekend.

But Queensland's north is preparing for flooding with severe weather warnings in place for Cairns, Cooktown and Port Douglas.

Narramore said there were falls in excess of 300mm in the Daintree Rainforest last night.

Western Australia is set to continue cooking today and into the weekend with the possibility of temperatures reaching 40 degrees in the region's north.

"The focus of extreme heat will be around the Pilbara with temperatures of 46 to 48 degrees expected," Narramore said.

In January last year, Mardie, Onslow and Roebourne reached above 50 degrees and the bureau said this could happen again at the weekend.

"That's the third or fourth time we've seen temps in Australia record temps above 50 degrees," Narramore said.

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The ACT will also be hot, with Canberra forecast to reach 33 degrees on Friday before pushing up to 35 degrees on Saturday, with a possible thunderstorm on the forecast.

Brisbane is looking at a top of 31 degrees on Friday and staying much the same across the weekend.

Further south though, in Perth, it will be a much cooler 28 degrees before the mercury jumps up to 34 degrees on Saturday, in line with those models.

In Darwin, it'll be 33 degrees and thunderstorms across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The prolonged heat conditions come as Narramore predicts warm temperatures will last longer this year as La Nina conditions ease.

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A bushfire has turned into a blazing tornado of smoke and flames in NSW's Central West.

Video released by the NSW Rural Fire Service shows a bushfire turned into a blazing funnel of smoke and fire in Cowra.

Firefighters had been battling the Conimbla Road fire outside of Cowra when it suddenly turned into a fire tornado known as a fire-generated vortex.

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"The strong winds it generated knocked crews to the ground and lifted the roof off a house, sending debris flying through the air," RFS said.

A fire-generated vortex occurs when turbulent wind and intense rising heat from a fire combine to form a tornado-like vortex that sucks in debris and combustible gases, which only fuel the whirlwind.

The Cowra fire is continuing to burn west of Lachlan Valley Way and north of Foleys Road towards Frying Pan Creek.

"Firefighters supported by heavy machinery and waterbombing aircraft are working to control the fire with a focus on the western edge today," NSW RFS said.

"Crews will work into the evening strengthening containment lines."

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The fire has burnt 379 hectares of land to date.

It comes as a heatwave is sweeping up from Victoria into NSW over the weekend bringing elevated fire dangers.

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The lastest about your region impacted by the disaster.

Living in their cars, the fraud was committed to support the man’s family, it was heard.

A curious puppy has been rescued after it fell into a drain after he was let outside to go to the toilet in Sydney's south-west.

Four-week-old Bingo wandered over a drain cover on Gemas Street in Holsworthy and was so small he fell into the hole.

Fire and Rescue NSW removed the drain cover and used a hook to pull Bingo out by his collar.

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He was stuck in the drain for about an hour.

Bingo is an RSPCA rescue puppy, who is being fostered by his owner.

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A popular luxury Australian women's fashion brand has collapsed into liquidation after attempts to tackle its debt failed.

Alice McCall has operated for over a decade with boutiques in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and online retailers, including The Iconic.

Matthew Kucianski from the insolvency firm Worrells has been appointed as liquidator of the luxury brand.

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"Despite attempts to restructure its debt and reduce its store footprint in 2020, the company was unable to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic, and ultimately a decision was made to appoint Worrells to oversee its winding up," a statement said.

Kucianski said it is a "difficult time" for everyone involved as the brand collapses.

"We will do our utmost to support all stakeholders throughout the liquidation process," he said.

"Our team is committed to ensuring that the liquidation process is conducted in a professional and transparent manner, and that all parties are kept informed of developments as they arise."

Kucianski did not reveal the number of creditors owed by the brand.

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All of the physical Alice McCall stores have now closed but the brand's clothing and shoes are still retailing online through resellers.

The company has long struggled after entering voluntary administration in November 2020.

It was founded in 2004 by eponymous fashion designer Alice McCall.

She released a statement this afternoon and thanked all the people who have worn and supported the brand.

"It is time to close the doors, making space for a new chapter in my life," she said.

"Taking a moment to reminisce, the thing that stays with me is when someone shares their experience in wearing an Alice piece, and how much the memory means to them.

"This I hold deep in my heart, the ability that the garment has to make you feel good. It's the art of dress I love.

"I also want to acknowledge the importance of small businesses in our community, they are the cornerstone in society.

"We must remember to hold each other up, to make decisions with our heart, and to support each other.

"Thank you for your support over the years, but now it's time to bow out."

The luxury brand's collapse comes after a spate of liquidations including online furniture retailer Brosa and numerous construction companies across Australia.

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A patient has suffered serious burns while undergoing a medical procedure at a private hospital in Western Australia.

The man was undergoing a routine medical procedure at St John of God Subiaco Hospital when it's believed a fire broke out in the operating room on Tuesday.

9News understands the man was undergoing a run-of-the-mill skin procedure when the fire started and he was subsequently rushed to a burns hospital.

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He remains in a critical condition with severe burns.

St John of God Subiaco Hospital acting CEO Jenny Brenton said the patient has been transferred to a tertiary hospital for specialist care.

"We advised the patient's family of the situation immediately following the incident and we recognise this is a difficult time for them," Brenton said.

"We have commenced a full investigation and analysis to determine the cause. We will continue to keep the patient and family informed as this progresses.

"We are unable to comment any further about the circumstances and details due to privacy laws."

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