The effects of smoke from a mine fire is "nowhere near" the level required to evacuate the Victorian town of Morwell, authorities say.
Chief health officer Dr Rosemary Lester says while smoke and ash from the deliberately-lit blaze is distressing, carbon monoxide levels are far from the point to trigger an evacuation.
"We don't believe there's a necessity to evacuate," Dr Lester told reporters in nearby Traralgon.
"We haven't seen levels rise to anywhere near a level where we would be concerned."
Dr Lester said an evacuation plan was being prepared for the town and carbon monoxide levels were being monitored.
She said there was no evidence of long-term health effects from short-term exposure to smoke and ash.
And there was no reason for pregnant women in Morwell to be concerned about the effects of the carbon monoxide.
A fire spread into the Hazelwood open-cut coalmine in the Latrobe Valley on February 9 and is burning over three kilometres in worked-out areas.
The fire is sending thick smoke into Morwell, which is home to more than 13,000 people.
Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley says crews hope to have the blaze put out in two weeks but concedes it could be up to two months if conditions are not favourable.
Mr Lapsley said hot, windy weather on Tuesday proved a headache for firefighters, when an ember sparked a grassfire between the mine and within 200 metres of the power station.
He says high temperatures and winds forecast next Thursday could bring a severe fire danger and pose another challenge for crews.
Authorities have given 25,000 face masks to locals in the Latrobe Valley, but say long-term health effects are not likely.
