Homes under threat as bushfire bears down on properties in Geraldton suburbs

Lives and homes are again under threat from a bushfire burning in Western Australia's Midwest, with a fresh emergency warning issued in Geraldton's outer suburbs.

Firefighters defended properties in the suburbs of Waggrakine and Moresby as the blaze burned close to homes on Sunday afternoon.

Two emergency warning areas for the fire were downgraded to a "watch and act" level by 10:20pm yesterday, but another emergency warning was issued just before 6am on Monday for Bluff Point, Spalding and Sunset Beach.

The warning covers an area bounded by Crowtherton Street, the coastline, Bosley Street, Chapman Valley Road and the Spalding Park Golf Course, with people urged to leave now for a safer place if the way is clear.

Authorities have also urged the public to remain vigilant, as challenging bushfire conditions are expected to continue today.

The QE11 centre has been reopened as a temporary evacuation centre.

The blaze was first reported at 10:30am on Sunday as it moved in a northerly direction.

Water bombers assisted firefighters in their efforts to control the fire.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) district officer Brent Allen said crews had spent most of the weekend putting out separate fires before the blaze sparked.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, but Mr Allen said the point of ignition was similar to where a fire had been started on Friday afternoon.

"We believe that [the Friday fire] was suspicious so it's being investigated," he said.

"We don't know if [this fire] is a reignition of a previous fire or if it's a new one that's been started."

Just minutes before the fire reached emergency warning level, people could be seen packing their cars and leaving their homes.

A farmer could be seen driving towards the scene with his own water tank to assist.

People could also be seen standing on roofs to get a better visual of the fire.

Western Power said power to more than 5,000 homes and businesses was impacted by the bushfire, with affected suburbs including Spalding, Bluff Point and Woorree.

Forecasters said a southerly wind was bringing cooler conditions to the fire area, but those winds remained strong at between 35 and nearly 50 kilometres an hour.

Caroline Cross from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said Monday was expected to bring more hot conditions, with temperatures in the low 40s in Geraldton.

"Coming into [Monday] morning, the winds will be quite fresh and gusty similar to what was experienced this morning," she said.

"We could see them getting 45km/hr gusting up to about 60km/hr during the morning."

Ms Cross said the area would not experience a milder change until Tuesday.

Day of fire

Another blaze was reported in the Shire of Chittering, north east of Perth,  around 11am on Sunday.

DFES issued an emergency warning, but it was later downgraded.

Residents in the area bounded by Cook Road, Cullalla Road, Barn Road and Bindoon Moora Road were told to stay alert.

District Officer at Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Phillip Hay, said crews worked quickly to contain the fast-moving fire.

"We had fire flame up to around sort of two-to-three-metre mark," he said.

"That fire was moving at around one and a half kilometres an hour … very challenging for our crews."

Mr Hay said several properties were saved, but the blaze caused minor damage to a transportable donga.

"We are mindful that [Monday] is going to be a worse day," Mr Hay said.

"We're very cautious. Whilst we have this fire contained tonight, it's certainly not safe for us."

Extra crews to travel from Perth to help

Mr Allen said it had "probably been about 10 years since we've had fires running into this particular patch at this scale".

"And when we've had other jobs around the district and region at the same time, it's about the biggest stretch I've seen in my career," he said.

A crew of 60 people will travel up from Perth on Monday morning to relieve local firefighters.

Mr Allen said property damage wasn't believed to be significant and the Waggrakine Primary School was "fine."

"We had crews working really hard for a period of about two hours to save properties on Tappak Street," he said.

"We're going to get in touch with the owners where there was some damage to their properties but I can't confirm yet if we've actually lost houses."

Geraldton resident, Shaun Hanson, was forced to flee his home of 10 years with his dog Duke.

Not sure what to do or where to go, he parked up under a shady tree and watched the road blockade.

"I've called a couple of friends that live close by to make sure they're OK," he said.

"It's definitely a shock, it's not nice seeing this go through your neighbourhood."

Visit Emergency WA, call DFES on 133 337, follow DFES on Twitter or listen to ABC Local Radio to stay up to date.