The Mackay Port Authority is investigating the cause of two separate fires on port-owned land near Slade Point Road on Thursday..

The first fire tore through about 14 hectares of scrub land on the eastern side of Slade Point Road just before noon.

The fire is believed to have been sparked by an industrial incident.
 
MPA environmental manager Scott Keane said a second fire broke out about 2 p.m. on the opposite side of the road in an area known as Bedford’s Paddock.

Mr Keane said the fire burnt out about 100 hectares of  land.

“Investigations are continuing but it’s believed the second fire could have been deliberately lit,” he said.

“It will be very disappointing if this is the case.”

Mr Keane said the fire threatened a bird hide and sections of the boardwalk in the Kommo Toera Trail nature reserve.

“We had water tankers on standby just in case the fire flared in the area again,” he said.