It's heating up - is your property fire-ready?

The mercury's rising in Victoria, according to The Age, with temperatures reaching the 30s this week and expected to head into the mid-40s within the next few days.

It's so hot, in fact, The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) has issued a warning to property owners across the state.

"Victoria is one of the world's most wildfire-prone areas, and it is not only regional communities who need to be vigilant," said a spokesman for the RACV.

He added that a "major fire" endangered many homes, businesses and lives in the suburb of Epping (22km north of Melbourne's CBD) last year, and people need to prepare themselves for the worst.

One of the best ways to make sure that you won't have to close your property's doors for good if and when it's damaged by wildfire is to arrange business property insurance.

This is just one of the business insurance options that Elders Insurance can provide you with - for more information, get in touch with your local agent today!

Of course, prevention should be your first step - and there are a number of ways you can reduce the chances of losing your property to fire.

The RACV encourages property owners to take the following precautions:

- Keep your grass short (less than 10 centimetres high is ideal)
- Make sure all trees and shrubs around your property are kept pruned
- Store wood, flammable chemicals and items (such as outdoor furniture) in a safe place, away from your property
- Try to clear all gutters on your property of debris.

The Country Fire Authority also states that you shouldn't plant large shrubs under windows. If you have livestock that could be put at risk by a severe weather event, plan ahead and create areas where they could be moved / fed in the event of a wildfire.