Victorian bushfires: Melbourne hit by smoke haze

Smoke from Victoria's massive East Gippsland bushfires has blanketed central Melbourne, compromising air quality in the city.

Geelong and the Latrobe Valley also been covered by smoke from the blazes on Friday, prompting authorities to warn those sensitive to air pollution to limit their exposure.

The Environment Protection Authority ranked air quality in Melbourne's CBD as "very poor" from midday, with that ranking unchanged at 6pm.

READ MORE: Latest on the State of Disaster in Victoria

Air quality at Melbourne's Brighton, Footscray and Brooklyn was ranked as "hazardous" at times in the afternoon, before easing to very poor.

Parts of the La Trobe Valley also experienced hazardous air quality at points during the day, while Geelong's air was ranked as very poor at one stage.

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The smoky conditions are expected to ease across all three regions on Saturday.

EPA Chief Environmental Scientist Dr Andrea Hinwood said people who are particularly sensitive to the smoke should avoid being outside, or go elsewhere, if they could.

"What we're asking people is if you're sensitive to air pollution, now is the time to put in place your treatment plan," she told reporters in Melbourne on Friday.

"Where possible, reduce your exposure to the smoke so that you protect yourself."

But people in the thick of the fires are unlikely to have a reprieve anytime soon, with hazardous air quality forecast for the next few days at East Gippsland and the northeast.