TOTAL fire bans have been put in place for five districts in South Australia, with hot weather and northerly winds forecast for today.

Police say Operation Nomad, which keeps tabs on known firebugs and checks suspicious activity, will target bush fire prone areas throughout the state.

The CFS says fire bans have been declared for the Northwest Pastoral, West Coast, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Mount Lofty Ranges and Lower South East districts.

The Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens is also closed today due to the fire ban.

The temperature's expected to reach 36 degrees in Adelaide.