An area of southern Queensland larger than Tasmania is under a total fire ban that will be extended from central Queensland to the Gold Coast from Thursday.

During what is expected to be at least a five-day ban across 23 local government areas (LGA), all open fires will be prohibited and all fire permits issued in those areas have been suspended.

The ban from today across four LGAs in the state's south-west comes as temperatures ar forecast to hit the mid-30s in parts of the Darling Downs.

Fire bans by LGA

From Wednesday:

Toowoomba, Southern Downs, Western Downs, Goondiwindi

From Thursday:

Brisbane, Gold Coast, Redland, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Logan, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Lockyer Valley, Somerset, Scenic Rim, South Burnett, Cherbourg, Gympie, Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, North Burnett, G

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