Brigades extinguished two suspicious grassfires, a hotel oven fire, boat blaze and an overheated hospital boiler.

Warrnambool area CFA incident controller Henry Barton said the consequences would have been far worse if emergency services had not jumped on the incidents quickly.

“We are also looking at high risk for Tuesday,” he said.

“Although the temperature will be cooler there are serious concerns about significant wind changes and the chance of lightning strikes in dry thunderstorms.

“Vigilance is required.

“If people notice a fire or anyone acting suspiciously they should report it as soon as possible.”

CFA experts and police detectives are investigating yesterday’s fires north of Koroit and at Mailors Flat.

The Koroit incident beside Woolsthorpe Road near the old Koroit racecourse was reported about 12.05pm and burnt about four hectares of rough pasture before being controlled.

It took two hours to make the scene safe and mopping-up continued into the evening.

Mr Barton said 15 brigade appliances, an aerial surveillance plane and about 70 personnel attended.

“Winds were gusting up to 30 kilometres an hour in the direction of Koroit and Yarpturk,” he said.

“Two hours after the Koroit call we were alerted to a blaze at Ibbs Lane-Shady Lane, Mailors Flat.

“Fortunately brigade members were on standby and contained the damage to about half-a-hectare of grass and 15 fence posts.

“Again the cause is being investigated.”

Police have urged anyone with useful information on the incidents to contact the Warrnambool criminal investigations unit or Crimestoppers.

Other CFA members were called to Warrnambool Base Hospital about noon where a boiler unit was overheating. They worked with engineers to prevent an explosion.

Then later in the afternoon CFA units went to the Hotel Warrnambool to extinguish an oven fire.

Meanwhile, at Camperdown’s Lake Bullen Merri a Bannockburn man had a narrow escape from his exploding ski boat about 10.30am.

Police said the 41-year-old was driving across the lake about 10.30am when the rear exploded due to a suspected ruptured fuel-line.

The man abandoned ship with scorched hair and clothes before he was brought to safety by another lake user.

The boat was floating alight for 20 minutes until CFA units could reach it, with the total damage estimated at $28,470.

Camperdown policewoman Sergeant Heather Morris said it was an eventful day with a burst water main in Manifold Street and a fallen light pole just a few hours later.

She reminded boat users to regularly service their craft, especially before holiday periods.

“If he had his family in the boat it could have been horrific,” she said.

j.pech@standard.fairfax.com.au

pcollins@standard.fairfax.com.au