Australia braced Monday for the worst conditions since firestorms killed 210 people last month, prompting authorities to send warning text messages to the mobile phones of five million people.

The unprecedented move comes after criticism that warnings ahead of the devastating blazes that hit on February 7 were insufficient, leaving residents inadequately prepared.

With firefighters facing a potentially lethal mix of flames, heat and winds approaching 150 kilometres (93 miles) an hour on Tuesday, Victorian Premier John Brumby said he wanted to ensure warnings reached as wide an audience as possible.