The Queensland Fire Department has issued a Watch and Act warning for a "dangerous, fast moving" vegetation fire burning in the Gladstone region.
Twelve crews are working to control the blaze burning near Kirkwood Road, and aerial support has been requested.
Residents are being warned the situation could get worse quickly and they should prepare to leave.
The department said the fire started about 11:50am on the side of the road alongside the Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens.
The rural fire service was also back-burning along the Gladstone trail this afternoon to try and get the fire within containment lines.
The department said the fire is likely to impact the community in the coming hours.
In a social media post this afternoon, Queensland Police said multiple roads had been closed around the suburbs of Glen Eden, Burura, Toolooa and Telina.
The road closures include Kirkwood Road, Dixon Drive, Bukkan Road and Haddock Drive.
"Ongoing diversions and road closures are in place … motorists are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel," the social media post said.
Resident Jean Williams has lived in the area for five years.
She had been driving home on Kirkwood Road after a trip to the grocery store when she noticed the large plume of smoke.
"It just got bigger and bigger, and then we heard a call at the door; one of our neighbours had rushed up to see … they didn't know how close it was," Ms Williams said.
"Our neighbours are short on water, and they have nothing to fight with; however, they are not in any danger at the moment."