MELBOURNE, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Residents of small towns southwest of Melbourne in the Australian state of Victoria have been told it is too late to leave as a nearby bushfire threatens lives and homes.

An emergency warning issued on Sunday morning said that the out-of-control fire could impact the town of Gellibrand, 150 km southwest of Melbourne, at any time.

It said that residents of Gellibrand and the neighboring town of Carlisle River, which have a combined population of around 400 people, need to act immediately to survive.

"If you have not left, the safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately," it said.

The fire has been burning since Jan. 10 and was considered under control, but breached containment lines on Saturday as maximum temperatures across the state exceeded 35 degrees Celsius.

Chris Hardman, Victoria's Chief Fire Officer, told Australian Broadcasting Corporation television on Sunday morning that the fire was "right on the edge" of Gellibrand.

Smoke from the fire spread to Melbourne on Saturday night, prompting air quality warnings.

Victoria's Environment Protection Authority rated the air quality in Melbourne's central business district as very poor on Sunday morning, and said it would remain poor or very poor through the day.

Authorities said that the smoke could aggravate existing heart and lung conditions and cause irritated eyes, coughing and wheezing. ■