Lightning sparks 256 new Vic bushfires Lightning strikes have started more than 250 new fires across Victoria, as the state faces another day of extreme weather conditions. Three emergency warnings were issued on Tuesday as the state sweltered through temperatures of up to 46C. The night didn't bring good news, with lightning strikes in northwestern and central Victoria starting 256 new fires. Victoria's Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said crews were assessing the blazes. "Obviously as day breaks we'll assess where they take us, but that is not a good position to have - lightning move into the state and cause that number of fires overnight," he told the Nine Network. That's not what we wanted, but that's the position we are in. A total fire ban has been issued for the entire state for Wednesday. Mr Lapsley said the driest part of the state was the region of central Victoria north of the The Great Dividing Range. Where the lightning struck is in the driest part. That's a bit of a challenge for us this morning and we will certainly be focused on that," he said. Mr Lapsley urged Victorians to have a fire plan. Firefighters stopped a blaze that threatened a historic homestead at Dromana on the Mornington Peninsula on Tuesday, but were unable to save a cafe. Emergency warnings were issued on Tuesday for fires at Sunbury, Kangaroo Ground and Little River, but they were all brought under control. CFA spokesman Mick Harris told Fairfax Radio there were 22 fires still listed as ongoing, 15 controlled and three contained. No properties are under threat. He said the worst fire was a 6500 hectare blaze at Lake Albacutya between Horsham and Ouyen, which was burning mainly in national park land.