Visibility at the authority's monitoring station just west of the city has dropped to just 3 kilometres. It is expected to remain hazy until Saturday morning and the smoke-filled air is likely to cause coughing or shortness of breath. Traralgon and the Latrobe Valley have it worse, with the authority noting their air quality is currently hazardous. The East Gippsland towns of Omeo and Swifts Creek, both of which have been impacted by the fires, were both recording "hazardous" air quality.

The conditions even made professional sport hard, with Melbourne Victory players practising at Gosch's Paddock saying they were struggling with the smoke. It is not clear how long the smoke will last for, with the EPA and Bureau of Meteorology giving different forecasts. In parts of the city the visibility was pretty limited. Credit:Jason South "Intense fire activity in the south-east and north-east of Victoria is producing hazardous smoke conditions for Central and Eastern Victoria," the EPA warning reads. "These conditions are likely to persist for three days, and worsen on Sunday and Monday."

However the Bureau of Meteorology's senior forecaster Tom Delamotte said the smoke would likely clear from Melbourne on Saturday morning. “We’re expecting the smoke to linger into tonight. It should clear up tomorrow morning as we see with a wind change move across the Melbourne.” The view down Brunswick Street. Credit:Jason South Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton warned that hazardous smoke haze could lead to serious aggravation of health effects in people over 65, children 14 years and younger, pregnant women and those with existing heart or lung conditions. He also said many people might have symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.

Dr Sutton advised those with asthma to have their management plans and medication on hand as symptoms and exposure required. For those severely impacted by the smoke, Dr Sutton said face masks were an option. Smoke over Melbourne as seen from the Bureau of Meteorology's satellite. Credit:BOM "Ordinary paper dust masks, handkerchiefs or bandannas do not filter out fine particles from bushfire smoke and are generally not very useful in protecting your lungs. "P2 or N95 masks filter bushfire smoke, providing greater protection against inhaling fine particles.