One house and a shed have been destroyed by an out of control bushfire near Northcliffe in Western Australia's south.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services also says the fire has reached the Windy Harbour settlement, some 25km south of Northcliffe.
Water bombing aircraft are protecting assets.
People in Windy Harbour have been told to shelter in their homes and protect them, or relocate to the beach, specifically the Caretakers Residence on Windy Harbour Road.
"It is not safe to leave Windy Harbour," DFES said on Wednesday morning.
"People in Windy Harbour are advised to seek shelter at the beach and take directions from the caretaker."
It's understood about 40 people on Windy Harbour beach may be moved because the fire is within a few hundred metres of the settlement.
An emergency warning for Windy Harbour was briefly downgraded to a watch and act after 6am, but has again been elevated to an emergency.
The same warning remains in place for Northcliffe and the subdivisions of Parkview, Bracken Rise and Double Bridge, which are under imminent threat.
These areas have been declared undefendable.
Spot fires are starting up to 100 metres ahead of the fire and winds are expected to be gusty throughout the day.
There are fears a wind change could result in Pemberton - the evacuation point for Northcliffe residents - also being threatened by fire.
A community meeting will be held at the Pemberton Mill Hall at noon. A second community meeting at Northcliffe that was scheduled for 2pm has been cancelled.
There are unconfirmed reports that firefighters have suffered minor injuries.
Northcliffe general store manager Graham Munro is among about 40 people - mostly farmers - who have not left, and he does not know if his property west of the town is still standing.
He attends the store day and night.
"Those that are frail, unable to defend, they've gone long ago," Mr Munro told Fairfax radio.
"The farmers are well equipped to defend their property. The townspeople are not. They don't have bulldozers and those sorts of things."
Mr Munro said a lot of sheds and fences had been lost, but he had not heard of any livestock perishing.
Firefighters had put in a remarkable effort to save properties, he said, especially considering the blaze was frequently changing direction.
"Yesterday for a while it was heading straight at the town ... across land that had previously been burnt, but then of course it swung around and took off like a rocket for the coast again.
"The wind is blowing away from the town at the moment, so it's pretty good but there's still ash around.
"You've got to stay calm.
"I'm sure people have been through worse, so no, we're not worried."
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