100 km Super Fire Storm threat

Up to a fifth of Victoria could be engulfed in flames if conditions conspire to bring dozens of smaller fires together into a massive fire front tomorrow. Steve Bracks also today described the weekend fears of a super firestorm - with a front stretching across 100km - could be the worst disaster the state has experienced since 1939's Black Friday.

The Premier's dire warning came as John Howard told Victorians that federal resources were on standby to help in the battle that is expected to be at its most dangerous at lunchtime tomorrow in searing conditions.

"It's very, very scary stuff and the terrible combination of circumstances - high temperature, low humidity, all of those things - are very bad indeed,” Mr Howard told 3AW today.