A forecast top of 37 degrees, following a recent spate of hot weather has led to the Emergency Services Agency declaring today the second total fire ban day this week.

Firefighters battled two grassfires yesterday near Red Hill lookout which each burned about a hectare.

While the recent hot weather has fuelled predictions of record November temperatures, fire and rescue acting deputy commissioner Gary Kent said total fire ban days had been declared as early as September in recent years.

South Australia became the first jurisdiction to declare a catastrophic warning under the new national fire danger rating system, but Mr Kent said the ACT was in a better position.

He said while hot weather over coming days led to the potential for fire, recent rain had left some moisture in some of the territory's grasslands.

''It's going to be predictably fairly hot the next couple of days, with the spring growth we've had ... there's a bit of fuel-load there, but we've got the advantage that it's not fully cured yet and that's the major difference between us and South Australia.''

Mr Kent said the central western area in particular Coppins Crossing was among the driest and most at-risk areas in the ACT.

But he said recent preparations had left the Emergency Services Agency well prepared.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting temperatures in the 30s until Monday.