Shattered Margaret River faces third day of fire hell

UPDATE 8.45AM: Margaret River hopes that easing weather conditions today will give firefighters the chance to contain the raging bushfire that has forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes and damaged or destroyed at least 34 properties.

About 150 firefighters battled the blaze overnight, assisted by an easing of the winds that helped push it across the Margaret River.

An emergency warning remains for the Margaret River region.

Firefighters heading out for the third day say they are exhausted but optimistic.

Singleton volunteer firefighter Lawrie Drage was one of six firefighters who sheltered with 60 people on the beach at Gnarabup yesterday and is back today.

Mr Drage said he was trying to keep people calm as a sheet of flames leapt over the area.

"The fire went right over the top of us it's pretty scary," he said.

"Today we don't know what is going to happen."

Mr Drage said people sheltering yesterday used supplies from the White Elephant Cafe.

"The owner opened up the store room and said help yourselves."

Mr Drage said there was no doubt this fire was among the worst in his 40 years fighting blazes. "I've seen the worst and this is one of them," he said.

The Department of Environment and Conservation says that people in the area south of Carters Road, north of Forest Grove Road and Conto Road on the west side of Bussell Highway south of the industrial area are in the emergency warning zone.

The fire has burnt about 2865ha and has a 42.5km perimeter.

DEC warns the fire is still showing aggressive behaviour to the south of Redgate Road.

Hundreds of residents and holidaymakers have evacuated areas threatened by the fire.

Firefighters hope that light rain forecast for today will assist them in their efforts to fully contain the blaze.

The department said 25 houses and nine chalets had been lost to the fire.

Properties have been burnt or damaged at Prevelly, Gnarabup and Redgate. The historic Wallcliffe House has also been burned.

Yesterday, as dozens of homes burned in the idyllic beachside communities of Prevelly and Gnarabup, Premier Colin Barnett declared Margaret River a natural disaster zone while promising a full inquiry into how the disaster happened.

Hundreds of people packed Margaret River's community centre, anxious for information on whether their homes, farms and animals had survived. Another community meeting will be held at 10am today.

Hot, dry 45km/h winds, gusting to more than 65 km/h, continued to fan a fire that leapt over the Margaret River mouth and raced through million-dollar holiday homes and picturesque rural retreats.

Historic Wallcliffe House, built in 1865 and owned by leading businessman Michael Chaney, was among the official count of 34 properties destroyed.

Its loss was greeted by groans from local people.

Last night, as more than 400 firefighters continued to battle flames up to 10m high and a front travelling at 2km/h to 3km/h, residents on the western edge of the Margaret River townsite were evacuated ahead of a potentially disastrous change of winds this morning.

Fire planners are predicting the wind will swing from the north to the south-west today, which could push the fire directly towards the Margaret River townsite.

Miraculously, no human deaths or serious injuries have been reported.

About 50 residents of Prevelly were forced to retreat to the beach to wait out the fire front after the road into Margaret River was cut by flames.

They spent a harrowing day blanketed by extreme heat and smoke before volunteer marine rescue crews whisked them from the beach on jetskis to waiting boats.

Some of the region's best-known wineries, including Leeuwin Estate, Xanadu Wines, Cape Mentelle, Voyager Estate and Redgate Wines were forced to evacuate.

Voyager Estate cellar door manager Janine Carter said conditions were "very scary".

"The winds are howling, it's very warm and smoke is very evident," she said.

Historic Walcliffe House goes up in flames. Picture; Seven News

In State Parliament, Opposition Leader Eric Ripper asked if the intense pressure on the Department of Environment and Conservation to undertake controlled burns after the scathing Keelty report into last summer's Kelmscott-Roleystone bushfire disaster had caused the agency to take unnecessary risks.

The DEC's prescribed fire plan for the Ellensbrook controlled burn zone reveals the agency knew it would struggle to contain a fire if it escaped its containment lines because of excessive fuel loads.

Environmentalists warned the DEC to abandon the burn on September 21.

DEC fire services manager Murray Carter defended the decision to push ahead, saying it was worried the area would pose a greater fire risk if it did not finish the job.

Mr Barnett, who went to Margaret River yesterday with new Fire and Emergency Services Authority Commissioner Wayne Gregson, told a packed community meeting he was sorry for those who had suffered.