Police have arrested a man over a series of three grass fires in Adelaide’s south on Thursday evening as the state braces for a day of potentially catastrophic fire danger.

A 30-year-old man of no fixed place was charged with three counts of light or maintain a bushfire.

He was refused police bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday.

The fires were discovered after members of the public reported smoke coming from near Sauerbiers Rd in Seaford Meadows just after 6pm on Thursday.

Police found three grass fires burning in close proximity to each other along the same road.

One fire was small and had self extinguished while the others had destroyed 200 square metres and a hectare.

The fires were lit on a day of soaring temperatures which will carry on into Friday and create a serious fire danger across the state.

Police are investigating after three suspicious grass fires in #SeafordMeadows were reported to police this evening. With total fire bans declared across the State tomorrow (Friday 28) emergency services urge vigilance. https://t.co/HlWMVSi6gY — South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) December 27, 2018

The CFS is urging Mid North residents to consider evacuating properties amid catastrophic fire conditions on Friday that have forced the closure of national parks.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting strong winds, soaring temperatures and the potential for dry lightning ahead of a wind change on Friday.

The Mid North has been declared a catastrophic fire danger while Mount Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Flinders, Eastern Eyre Peninsula and West Coast will be an extreme fire danger.

Up to 13 parks in the Mid North will be closed on Friday because of the elevated fire risk.

CFS state duty commander Nik Stanley said the potential for a dry lightning event would add to the danger in the north of the state.

Significant fire weather on Friday - hot to very hot, dry & windy ahead of a gusty change. Severe or Extreme fire danger for 8 districts; Catastrophic for the #MidNorth. Check ratings here: https://t.co/YZaimR2U0L & follow @CFSAlerts for latest incidents. https://t.co/oaZCLF2e0Y — Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) December 27, 2018

“It is critical that people up date their bushfire plans if they are in any of those district which are under these ratings,” Mr Stanley said.

“In some areas conditions will be so bad that it will not be safe to stay and defend.

“If you have a bushfire survival plan that involves leaving I would encourage you to make those arrangements now rather than leaving it to the last minute when you’re life could be put at risk.

“So please make sure you keep an eye on your neighbours and make sure you have a plan in place.”

CURRENT TEMPERATURES ACROSS SOUTH AUSTRALIA

A wind change will give slight relief on Thursday afternoon before a warm evening leads into a scorching day on Friday.

Sustained winds of up to 55km/h will exacerbate conditions in bushfire prone areas.

Adelaide is expected to reach 39C Friday but the northern parts of the state will swelter through temperatures above 40C.

CLOSURE NOTICE: In the interest of public safety, due to the extreme fire danger forecast, Mount Lofty Botanic Garden will be closed on Friday 28 December. For more information, visit https://t.co/TO28A8k3kB — Botanic Gardens SA (@BotGardensSA) December 27, 2018

Some national parks and reserves in the Mid North fire ban district will be closed on Friday 28 December due to catastrophic fire danger. pic.twitter.com/pKuweSACuM — SA Department for Environment & Water (@SAEnvirWater) December 27, 2018

Port Augusta is forecast to reach 47C while Renmark and Waikerie will reach 45C.

Bureau senior weather forecaster Kylie Egan said relief would shortly after the extreme conditions.

“Following that change (late on Friday) we are expecting mild conditions which will continue through to the weekend,” Ms Egan said.

Adelaide reached a top temperature on Thursday of 42.2C at 2.41pm.

The top temperatures in South Australia were 46.8C at both Whyalla and Port Augusta.

Teenage competitive wakeboarder Dylan Croxton was among the minority of sportspeople able to stay cool and fulfil their training commitments on Thursday.

Fire ban tips with the CFS Fire ban tips with the CFS

Dylan, 15, spent much of the day on the River Murray practising aerial tricks at White Sands outside Murray Bridge.

“It’s awesome out there, it’s nice and refreshing to be out in the water in this weather compared to training each night after school through winter,” he said.

Beginning competition wakeboarding before his 10th birthday, Dylan clinched a victory against older rivals in a national meet in Canberra earlier this month and said his dream was to make a career of his passion.

“It’s always been my dream to be a professional but there are so many younger kids coming through who are doing amazing things so it’s hard to achieve,” he said.

Dylan said the heatwave conditions prompted him to extend his stay with family and friends at White Sands Riverfront Caravan Park for several days before returning to home in Adelaide.

FIRE BAN RATINGS

Mid North — Catastrophic

West Coast — Extreme

Eastern Eyre Peninsula — Extreme

Flinders — Extreme

Mount Lofty Ranges — Extreme

Yorke Peninsula — Extreme

Northwest Pastoral — Severe

Riverland — Severe

Murraylands — Severe