Smoke warning after vegetation fire blankets Annandale, Wulguru, Idalia and Cluden

Residents in Townsville’s southern suburbs are being urged to stay indoors and close up their houses to avoid smoke from a vegetation fire. Read the latest update.

Smoke is blanketing Townsville's southern suburbs, with residents urged to stay inside. Pictures: Supplied.

Smoke blanketed Townsville’s southern suburbs from an unplanned vegetation fire, requiring multiple Queensland Fire Department crews to swing into action.

The blaze was first reported to be burning near Minehane St and Racecourse Rd, Cluden at 2.30pm on Friday.

QFD issued an advice level warning at 3.35pm for the suburbs of Annandale, Wulguru, Idalia and Cluden.

Residents in the affected suburbs were advised to stay inside, close windows and doors.

A QFD spokeswoman said they had five crews at the scene, who had commenced backburning, and no structures were being threatened by the fire at 4.30pm.

Firefighters left the fire to smoulder within containment lines at 5pm.

The fire was expected to continue producing a large amount of smoke over the coming hours.

Originally published as Smoke warning after vegetation fire blankets Annandale, Wulguru, Idalia and Cluden