The ridge would bring more settled weather, Sherwin-Simpson said, but that could trap the smoke: “We could see it carry a bit further across the state, and pool through valleys.”
As residents of the small town of Harcourt, in central Victoria, returned to find their homes razed, Melbourne residents from Reservoir to Croydon and the CBD reported ash coming into their homes on Saturday.
The poor air quality in about two-thirds of the state prompted Asthma Australia to warn more than 700,000 Victorians living with the respiratory condition that even low-level bushfire smoke inhalation could be life-threatening.
It advised the 11 per cent of Victorians living with asthma that airborne material in the smoke could be toxic to them, and to follow safety precautions including using air filters or masks.
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“The fine particle pollutants in smoke get deep into the lungs and inflame and narrow the airways, making it difficult to breathe,” said Kate Miranda, Asthma Australia chief executive.
“We urge people in Victoria to minimise their exposure to smoke if it becomes an issue, stay tuned to symptoms and seek medical care in an emergency.”
Smoke from the Victorian fires had already reached New Zealand on Saturday, said Sherwin-Simpson, while back in Victoria light rain brought dust lower into the atmosphere, also potentially affecting air quality.
Jen Martin, chief environmental scientist with EPA Victoria, said on Saturday afternoon that bushfire smoke was still affecting air quality in many areas but the forecast for Melbourne in the next few days was good to fair as westerly and southerly winds prevailed.
But Sherwin-Simpson later added that the Bureau of Meteorology was expecting a south-westerly wind would send more smoke across Melbourne on Saturday night from the worsening fires in the Otways.
“It’s a bit of a wait and see, but it looks like that fire is going to be going for quite a while. It’s got plenty of fuel to run into,” he said.
Dr Martin said weather conditions could change quickly, so she encouraged people to keep up to date with air quality conditions: “If you can smell smoke, take the necessary precautions to protect your health.”
Dr McElnay urged people to monitor EPA air quality information and said that if they were concerned about their breathing, other than in an emergency, they could use the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department or Nurse on Call. If reliever medication was not working, she said to call Triple Zero (000).
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