Hundreds of residents have been evacuated from a regional Queensland town as a heatwave fuels an out-of-control bushfire.

Several people, including five aged-care residents, have reportedly been taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation as a fire emergency continues in the south-west town of Dirranbandi.

Water bombers were brought in on Wednesday after more than 500 people fled the town of just 600 about six hours west of Brisbane, as two fast-moving grassfires threatened late on Tuesday.

Only about 45 residents chose to stay in the town near the Queensland-NSW border after a “leave immediately” notice was issued about 8pm AEST on Tuesday.

By Wednesday morning, about 80 people had arrived at an evacuation centre set up at nearby St George. Several of the evacuees were also being treated in the local hospital.

There was a slight reprieve with favourable conditions late on Tuesday but residents were warned it was still unsafe to return as power, sewerage, telecommunications and other utilities had been lost.

There have been no reports of injuries or loss of homes but there has been damage to power poles and telecommunications infrastructure.

Rural Fire Service Queensland acting chief officer Ben Millington said temperatures were expected to top 42 degrees on Wednesday, sparking concerns the Dirranbandi fires could worsen.

“Whilst the fire conditions have abated overnight and the early hours of this morning, there is potential for that to escalate again later today,” he said.

Millington said lightning could be to blame for the two grassfires.

The weather bureau issued a heatwave warning for south-east and inland Queensland on Tuesday, covering the Balonne Shire where the bushfire was burning.

Further south, there was also a warning of thunderstorm asthma in Victoria, after a hot and windy day ahead of a cool change.

Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury warned heat would intensify across western and inland Queensland, sparking an extreme fire danger warning.

Conditions are not expected to ease for days. Another escalation is predicted on Thursday as a trough moves across northern NSW to Queensland, with border town Goondiwindi reaching 40 degrees.

Millington said the next 48 hours would be the most challenging for fire crews, due to the risk of fresh blazes.

“We are seeing elevated fire conditions for the next couple of days until there’s a change on Saturday,” he said.

“We are monitoring conditions very closely, not just today, but the next 48 hours for various areas across the state, including those southwestern parts.”

Fires are also burning on the Atherton Tablelands, near Cairns in the far north, as well as Mount Isa in the north-west.

Millington said it was only the start of what was expected to be a dangerous bushfire season.

“We knew we had a lot of grassland fuel loads on the back of some of that flooding and the rain earlier this year,” he said.

“The bureau has told us we are expecting above-average temperatures and somewhat average rainfall leading into summer, and that’s eventuating.

“Until we see some significant rainfall across the state, we are expecting to see this fire activity continue for the foreseeable future.”

A Total Fire Ban has been declared for the Mallee fire district Wednesday 6 November 2024. No fire can be lit in the open air or be allowed to remain alight in the open air between 00:01 and 23:59 today.

Know what you can and can’t do on a Total Fire Ban https://t.co/qTT4P4ne58 pic.twitter.com/4de2gPZIkT

— cfa_updates (@CFA_Updates) November 5, 2024

Storms for Victoria

Victoria’s first total fire ban of the season was declared for the Mallee region, along the Murray River, on Wednesday.

Temperatures of almost 40 degrees were forecast for the area, with much of the rest of Victoria also getting to the high-30s in hot and windy conditions.

“Conditions will make it difficult for firefighters to supress a fire should one start,” Country Fire Authority Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said.

“We’re asking people to follow the strict conditions associated with the total fire ban declaration.

“Understand the how the increased fire risk will impact you and ensure your fire plan covers all possible contingencies.”

VicEmergency also issued a warning for a moderate risk of thunderstorm asthma on Wednesday.

People with hayfever or asthma are warned to be extra cautious outside during high-pollen days, as the mixture of high pollen, strong winds and rain can trigger severe asthma symptoms.

In 2016, 10 Victorians died in a catastrophic event in Melbourne. Thousands more had respiratory problems.

-with AAP