A man armed with a knife has "barricaded" himself, his brother and another family member inside a home, forcing police to lock down part of the south-east Queensland city of Maryborough.

One resident within the exclusion zone said "it’s like we’re in Die Hard" and a police spokeswoman said the man was "yelling profanity" at officers armed with rifles outside.

An emergency situation was declared about 3.30am after police were called to the Albert Street home by a neighbour in relation to some kind of disturbance.

Superintendent Craig Hawkins said the 51-year-old man confronted officers with a knife so they retreated and the man "barricaded" himself inside the home.