Thick smoke blankets Airlie Beach after crews battle overnight grass fire

Firefighters have battled through the night to contain a blaze that grew from nothing to 2000 square metres in just 90 minutes at Airlie Beach.

Emergency crews have contained a grass fire that rapidly spread in Airlie Beach early this morning, prompting smoke warnings across multiple communities. Photo: Jorina Maureschat

Emergency services are still on scene after a grass fire caused havoc in Airlie Beach overnight.

A Queensland Fire Department spokesman said crews were called to a small fire on the corner of Shute Harbour Road and Coconut Grove just after 2am this morning.

The fire quickly grew to 100 metres by 20 metres with crews fighting two separate fire fronts he said.

At 6am crews were dampening down after putting out the fire.

Queensland Ambulance crews assessed one patient for smoke inhalation at 2.34am and paramedics remain on scene.

The Queensland Fire Department issued a smoke warning for Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Woodwark and surrounding areas urging people to close windows and doors, keep respiratory medicine close by, avoid driving through smoke and watch out for firefighters working in the area.

They said no properties were at risk.

Originally published as Thick smoke blankets Airlie Beach after crews battle overnight grass fire