Terrifying first-time asthma warning as state choked by ‘toxic gases’

Doctors are warning of the possibility of first-time asthma attacks as smoke from numerous bushfires blankets the southeast. The alert comes as thick smoke causes havoc for motorists on the Bruce Hwy, north of Brisbane.

Doctors have delivered a terrifying warning about possible first-time asthma attacks, as smoke from numerous bushfires blankets the southeast.

The warning comes as a smoke alert is issued for motorists travelling on the Bruce Hwy at Narangba, with fires burning either side of the highway.

Visibility on the Bruce Highway at Narangba around lunchtime today. Picture: Supplied Facebook Queensland Ambulance

WORRYING HEALTH ALERT

Doctors say toxic gases, like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, released by the bushfires into the atmosphere may impact healthy Queenslanders who have no history of respiratory illness or hay fever.

“People who have not been in a bushfire situation before may find that the smoke triggers an attack. That’s why everyone must be careful about inhalation and act quickly if they are suffering wheezing and bad coughs,” president of the Australian Medical Association Queensland Maria Boulton said.

A satellite image of smoke over Queensland. Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Dr Boulton also cautioned against babies and small children in smoke environments.

“Their respiratory systems can deteriorate much more rapidly than in adults. Watch out for rapid breathing, wheezing and grunting noises,” Dr Boulton said.

“And of course people with a history of asthma or hay fever must make sure they have all their medications at the ready and seek medical attention if they deteriorate. Bushfire smoke mixed with Spring pollen can be a bad combination,” she said.

The doctor warned that Queenslanders who have suffered bad cases of Covid could find that their lung capacity is not what it was pre-Covid.

WHY IS THERE SO MUCH SMOKE AROUND?

A haze of smoke will linger in the south east skies for at least another day as more than a dozen fires burn across Queensland.

There were 17 blazes listed on the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services’ current warnings and incidents page, including one at Deepwater, Kabra, and multiple in the southeast region.

A satellite image showed several pockets of the state’s east covered in smoke since Tuesday, including the Brisbane area which was covered with a thick blanket of smoke caused by several fires in the area and further west.

Fireys continue to battle a blaze at Massie. Picture: Massie & District Rural Fire Brigade

A spokeswoman from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said the smoke was expected to linger in the area for a little longer.

“There’s a lot of smoke around Brisbane at the moment but that’s just coming from these other fires in the south east corner and inland,” they said.

“It’s expected to continue throughout today.”

Multiple fires are burning around the south east, including at Captains Mountain, Woodford, Mount French and Oaky Creek.

Fires are also burning near Massie on the Southern Downs Region, at Kabra near Rockhampton and in Deepwater, near Agnes Water, where a home was lost overnight.

In a Facebook post, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said the smoky conditions would likely last until at least Thursday morning.

“There has been a wind change, now blowing east which has caused a lot of smoke around Brisbane,” a QFES spokesman said.

Brisbane locals have taken to social media to comment on the smoky conditions.

“Anyone else noticing the smoke, seems the whole city is covered in it,” one woman based in Bulimba said.

“Definitely looking smoky outside,” said another from Alderley.

A bushfire burning at Deepwater: Picture: Westowe Rural Fire Brigade

QFES have advised those who suffer from respiratory conditions to close their windows and stay indoors.

It comes as hot conditions are expected for the southeast over the next week, peaking with tops of 31C and 32C in the city on Sunday and Monday.

There are fire bans in place in regions around the state and locals in areas of risk are warned to be prepared.

WIND GUSTS FANNING SMOKE

Meanwhile, intense wind gusts continued to sweep through the southeast on Wednesday, further fuelling the smoke.

Double Island Point near Rainbow Beach recorded gusts of up to 72km/h, while inland at Oakey and Toowoomba wind gusts of at 50km/h were recorded.

Closer to Brisbane, Cape Moreton had gusts of up to 76km/h, while Redcliffe had gusts of 48km/h and the Gold Coast Seaway recorded winds of 54km/h.

Senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology Harry Clark said high winds about Gladstone were impacting the fires at Deepwater, with gusts of 54km/h recorded at Gladstone on Tuesday.

“Gladstone is close to the Deepwater fire, so there would be winds impacting those fire grounds as well and wind is not helpful in that scenario as it drives the fire a bit,” Mr Clark said.

“So while temperatures have dropped because of these east-south-easterly winds, they have impacted the fire activity.”

Mr Clark said there is generally a moderate fire danger rating across the Queensland coast on Wednesday with the western regions on a high fire danger rating.

“It looks like the fire danger will peak over the weekend, so Saturday, Sunday and into Monday as the temperatures rise.”

“But the wind we’ve been seeing will slowly ease each day for the next few days.”