Concern for Townsville air quality as scrap metal yard fire releases thick, toxic smoke
By David Chen
Updated Wed at 10:10am
Thick smoke plumed over Townsville as the fire took hold on Tuesday afternoon.
Firefighters have spent the night battling a blaze in a scrap metal yard in Townsville, with authorities concerned the thick smoke could affect air quality in the city.
Plumes of thick black smoke blanketed Townsville yesterday after piles of rubbish and scrap metal at a business beside the Townsville Port caught fire about 5:20pm.
Crews used heavy machinery to break apart the rubbish pile and finally extinguished the blaze early this morning.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) Inspector Steven Knight said crews were continuing to carry out atmospheric testing, with concerns the smoke could cause irritation.
"As we started to get on top of the fire, the air quality started to drop slowly and the monitor started to pick some stuff up," he said.
"Hence we work with police, the council and EPA to look at that, we have specialist crews on the ground monitoring it."
Crews carried out air quality tests at South Townsville State school and the local kindergarten and both locations were deemed safe.
QFES is urging residents to continue to keep windows and doors shut.
People who suffer respiratory illnesses are reminded to keep medications close by, while motorists are being advised to remain vigilant and drive to the conditions.
It is not known how the fire started.
Source ABC News