Police are searching for a gunman who shot at officers after leading police on a dramatic car chase south-west of Rockhampton in central Qld.

Officers said the man armed with a high-powered rifle was on the run somewhere between Mount Morgan and Bouldercombe, south-west of Rockhampton.

Earlier reports that the man was staging a siege at a house were incorrect.

Sorry, this video has expired Police search for a gunman in central Qld ( Marlina Whop )

Officers said the man, aged in his 20s, fired shots at police and was extremely dangerous.

Earlier today officers were told a man had been threatening people with a gun, which led to a police pursuit of a four-wheel drive in Mount Morgan, south-west of Rockhampton.

Police said the man, described as extremely dangerous and armed with a high-powered rifle, later fired shots at police.

Authorities closed off several local roads, including the main road into Mount Morgan.

There were no reports of injuries but people have been urged to avoid the area, with traffic from Bouldercombe and Mount Morgan being diverted towards Gracemere, Dululu and Westwood.

Special emergency response police from Brisbane have arrived in central Queensland to help search for the gunman believed to be somewhere between Mount Morgan and Bouldercombe.

Man may have started grass fire, houses evacuated

As police searched for the gunman, emergency crews were trying to put out a large bushfire in the area.

Rural firefighters had to wait to get to a fire burning on the other side of police blockade. ( ABC News: Marlina Whop )

Officers declared an emergency situation and evacuated at least four homes.

Detective Inspector Darrin Shadlow said the man may be linked to the grass fire.

"There are some containment lines already in place with the fire breaks in that area, however it is believed the fire has jumped one of those fire breaks," he said.

Bouldercombe resident Keighley Mitchell said police had blocked access to his home.

"Hopefully they catch the guy and put the fires out," he said.

Earlier today, Bouldercombe resident Keith Jamieson said he saw a vehicle being pursued through the town by a number of police cars earlier in the day.

"A grey-silvery four-wheel drive came through and I'd say in excess over 100 kilometres per hour past the school with lots and lots of police cars — marked and unmarked," he said.

"I reckon there'd have to be at least 10 police cars chasing the vehicle towards Mount Morgan.

"I've got a lady I know that works at the shop — a young fellow came in there and he was run off the road up near the hotel.

"The car was on the wrong side of the road."