A troublemaker was causing concern on the Gold Coast on Saturday - but it was not one of the thousands of schoolies who descend on the strip for the beginning of the annual end of school festivities.
Instead, it was a grassfire that broke out near the Sea World theme park that forced police to declare an emergency situation and a temporary evacuation of the resort.
But the plumes of smoke it sent over nearby Surfers Paradise were unlikely to quell the spirit of up to 35,000 school leavers who were gearing up to party.
The first official night of the seven-day celebration is set to kick off with a beachside event on Saturday night after a day of temperatures in the 30s.
By the afternoon, those who had already arrived at the Gold Coast had provided no headaches for police.
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However eight non-schoolies - otherwise known as "toolies" - were arrested on Friday night for offences such as public nuisance.
Extra police and specialist services will be on standby for the week following security concerns after the Paris attacks.
Queues of former students lining up outside hotels were also scanned by sniffer dogs as they waited to check in.
Despite the extra measures, police stressed there is no specific terrorism threat for the event, with greater risks posed by drunken dips or risky high jinks.
Several high-rise towers will operate a zero-tolerance policy towards rooftop or balcony stunts while Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) has reminded schoolies of the danger of swimming in the ocean outside patrolled areas.
