Dramatic images have captured the moment a historic pub at Muckadilla in Queensland's southern inland was destroyed by fire.

Key points: Local firefighters turned up but immediately saw they could do nothing to stop the fire

Local firefighters turned up but immediately saw they could do nothing to stop the fire The publican and several patrons were spotted running across the road to escape the flames

The publican and several patrons were spotted running across the road to escape the flames Another fire gutted the original Muckadilla pub in 1960

The blaze at the Muckadilla Hotel, 40 kilometres west of Roma, started just after 3:00pm.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said five crews battled to bring the fire under control.

No one was hurt, but thick smoke caused the closure of the Warrego Highway in both directions.

Longreach journalist Jaimee-lee Prow was driving by when she saw the publican and several patrons running across the road to escape from the blaze.

Jaimee-lee Prow says she watched as fire quickly took hold of the pub. ( Supplied: Jaimee-lee Prow )

"I'm not a local here, but coming from a country town, you know in the rush of the moment it was overwhelming — you know, a big chunk of history that goes down with the pub," Prow said.

"It's a popular meeting place for a lot of people, everyone's run amok at the Muckadilla pub at some point."

According to the hotel's website, the pub was built in 1912 but the original bar burnt down in 1960.

The building also housed nine motel rooms and, according to a sign spotted at the edge of the property, it has been up for sale.

Prow said the fire tore through the building very fast.

The Muckadilla pub was gutted by fire. ( Supplied: Jaimee-lee Prow )

"After calling the fire department, we stood across the road and basically watched the Muckadilla pub in all her glory burning, it really didn't take long to catch on," she said.

"The local firefighters turned up, in cowboy hats and all, but they took one look at it and knew it was a job way bigger than what they could get under control.

"We were standing across the road but we had to get back because of the heat that was coming off the pub as it was burning down and very thick smoke coming out of it."

Prow said she expected locals to be devastated when they saw the damage.

"These institutions are the heart of a community and I can only imagine that this will really affect the Muckadilla and surrounding communities — it's the heart, it's the drawcard on the major highway for those small communities."