VICTORIANS were urged to remain indoors yesterday as hazardous smoke from bushfires again blanketed Melbourne and much of the state.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) issued a warning as the CBD recorded hazardous levels of fine particles in the air from 12am to 4am.
The EPA categorised it as very poor, with the air quality later hitting hazardous.
Air quality forecasts for Geelong, Latrobe Valley, Melbourne, central region, all of Gippsland and the north central region were all listed as hazardous by the EPA.
The Bureau of Meteorology also issued a warning to Victorians, especially relating to driving safely after smoke caused visibility to drop.
Sixteen fires are still burning and 1.4 million hectares has been destroyed across the state.
In Swan Hill, there is a medium (50 per cent) chance of showers and a thunderstorm today.
