Most of southern Queensland is under a total fire ban from today, while a community in the state's far north has been told to prepare to evacuate as a large fire continues to burn.

A prepare to leave notice for Lakeland, about 150 kilometres north of Cairns, was issued on Sunday night and remains in place.

The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) says a large, fast-moving fire is burning along the Mulligan Highway about 10 kilometres east of the township.

Rural Fire Service Queensland Savannah District assistant chief officer Clint Tunnie said the prepare to leave warning remained in place although the fire was currently contained.

"We're certainly concerned about wind speeds today that can potentially be gusting about 50kph," he said.

"The fire is still a little bit of distance from Lakeland but it's potentially heading in that direction."

Planes would map the fire today and conduct water-bombing activities, he said.

"The assets heading up there right now are to ensure we can hold those containment lines."

The fire began several days ago and until recently had been burning through inaccessible country.

It comes after the area was hit by flooding in the aftermath of ex-tropical cyclone Jasper last December.

Fire ban in the south-west

In the state's south-west, 10 local government areas have been placed under a total fire ban amid heightened bushfire conditions.

The ban came into place at midnight and will continue until at least 11.59pm on Wednesday.

The local government areas affected are:

• Toowoomba
• Southern Downs
• Western Downs
• Goondiwindi
• Maranoa
• Balonne
• Murweh
• Paroo
• Quilpie
• Bulloo

QFD Deputy Chief Officer Matt Inwood said the ban was out of caution.

"Over the last week or so we've seen a significant increase in the number of fires through that region," he said.

Temperatures had also been warm, with highs of above 30 degrees in some places, he said.

"With the fires that have been going across the region, and those conditions we're experiencing, we've put a local fire ban in place for the next three days.

"We're hopeful we'll get some rain later in the week which might settle those conditions a little bit."

The fire department says under a local fire ban, all open fires are prohibited and "all permits to light a fire which have been issued in the designated areas have been suspended for the duration of the ban".

Police investigating CQ fire

In central Queensland, police are investigating a grassfire which is burning near Mount Morgan, west of Rockhampton.

Firefighters were called to the fire on the Burnett Highway at Leyden's Hill on Sunday about lunchtime.

A man is assisting police with their enquiries into the cause of the fire.

Rural Fire Service Assistant Chief Officer Craig Magick said there had been several reports of suspicious activity in the Mount Morgan region.

"Bushfire arson is serious, it puts a lot of impact on our communities right across the state, and we need their help to ensure we deal with these fires in a quick and appropriate manner," he said.

"If you see any suspicious activity, please call triple-0 and report it immediately."

Mr Magick said multiple crews and aircraft were working to contain the slow-moving blaze but dense vegetation and terrain had been challenging.

He said there had been a significant impact on the community from smoke in the region, which has also affected Gracemere and parts of Rockhampton.

The Burnett Highway at Leydens Hill also remains closed because of trees on the road.

Police this morning said they were continuing to investigate whether the fire had been deliberately lit.

The Bruce Highway was also briefly closed on Sunday after a fridge inverter in the tray of a vehicle caught fire just north of Rockhampton.

The road has since reopened.