Bushfire near Grampians National Park

There are fears a bushfire burning in Victoria's west could threaten the Grampians National Park, with weather forecasts predicting warm and windy conditions in the region.

The bushfire started at Schmidt Road in Brimpaen at about 2pm (AEDT) on Saturday and has spread across 53 hectares, encroaching on the national park.

Country Fire Authority (CFA) operations officer Ian Day said 80 CFA firefighters from the Department of Sustainability and Environment had the blaze under control.

Two planes and a helicopter are also dropping water on the blaze.

"At this stage it looks like we have got the fire stopped prior to it going into the Grampians National Park," said Mr Day.

"But we're not expecting good weather.

"We've got very high winds and warm temperatures."

Mr Day said crews were using bulldozers to clear scrub and put a break around the perimeter of the bushfire, because fire cannot burn through earth.

There is no current threat to homes but residents in the area have been warned to expect smoke.

Total fire bans have been called in the Mallee, Wimmera, northern country, north central, south west and central (including Melbourne) regions of the state on Sunday, the CFA said.

Wind gusts of up to 75km/h, combined with significant fire fuel loads across Victoria, would create a serious fire risk, the authority said.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Peter Newham said winds near the Grampians were likely to ease overnight but would strengthen on Sunday morning with gusty conditions in the afternoon.

Rain is also forecast in the area and temperatures will ease, ranging in the mid-20Cs, Mr Newham said.

"Hopefully (the rain) helps and it is not going to be as hot as it was today," he said.

CFA Chief Officer Euan Ferguson warned people to keep informed about fire conditions on Sunday.

"We are expecting conditions to be warm tonight with wind picking up Sunday morning, especially in the western part of the state," he said.

"Tomorrow, those conditions will intensify with a dangerous combination of high winds and very dry fuel loads.

"Fuel loads in many grassland areas and on roadsides are heavy because of the strong growth over the past year.

"Isolated thunderstorms are also expected which could bring lightning."