Both ends of Magnetic Island were swept by smoke on January 2 . Residents at various parts of the island thought there were fires on the island as smoke drifted about the ridges . However , the smoke came from a vegetation fire near the Town Common in Townsville, behind the airport, which was " watched" by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and aviation firefighters . Why not put out ? This question was not raised in a brief account in the Townsville Bulletin which said Magnetic Island had been blanketed by smoke . It ended up saying the RSPCA animal ambulance conducted a patrol of the area following the blaze as it is a known wombat habitat.
The fire had broken out the day before in the Pallarenda National Park and heavy plumes of smoke were blown in an easterly direction...towards the island . Online , motorists were warned on the mainland and residents near the Town Common were advised to close windows and doors and keep medication close by if suffering from a respiratory condition . No such warning was issued for Magnetic Island residents despite a similar situation there and the place full of holidaymakers . Late in the afternoon there was a fiery sunset visible from the island and much of Cleveland Bay was covered in low smoke haze . A Horseshoe Bay resident said she would not want to be suffering from a respiratory condition in the circumstances.
The fire had broken out the day before in the Pallarenda National Park and heavy plumes of smoke were blown in an easterly direction...towards the island . Online , motorists were warned on the mainland and residents near the Town Common were advised to close windows and doors and keep medication close by if suffering from a respiratory condition . No such warning was issued for Magnetic Island residents despite a similar situation there and the place full of holidaymakers . Late in the afternoon there was a fiery sunset visible from the island and much of Cleveland Bay was covered in low smoke haze . A Horseshoe Bay resident said she would not want to be suffering from a respiratory condition in the circumstances.
