The Northcliffe bushfire has been declared a natural disaster even though favourable weather has allowed firefighters to finally make some progress against the blaze.
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett's declaration of natural disaster will give affected residents help with damaged homes and emergency needs including food, clothing and accommodation, while small businesses and primary producers can access subsidies.
And evacuees at a community meeting in Pemberton on Friday were told they should be able to return home over the weekend.
"For six days we've chased it pretty hard and it beat us every day," incident controller Roger Armstrong said.
"Yesterday, last night and today we're making good progress."
The wind is forecast to change directions several times over the weekend and temperatures in the southwest of the state may hit 40C, so firefighters are closing "gates" that could allow the fire to spread into new areas.
This will include laying retardant.
"We're not out of the woods yet," Mr Armstrong said.
He said virtually all of the state's firefighters were committed to the Northcliffe fire and another major blaze at Lower Hotham and there was no likelihood of additional resources.
Manjimup shire president Wade De Campo said the fire had hopped over on the eastern flanks of the blaze on Friday, so the situation was still dangerous.
"Be patient - I understand that is a tough thing to ask when you want to go back to your home and some of you have still got pets or livestock there," Mr De Campo told the crowd.
"Understand it is unsafe for you. The last thing that I would want is one of our community members going back in to their community and getting killed ... a tree falling onto the road or something."
Mr Barnett acknowledged Northcliffe residents were frustrated.
"It's tough, but by staying calm, you support all the emergency services," the Premier said.
"The fires can hopefully be contained, but it's volatile and living in a fire-prone area, you know that far better than I do. A change of wind, a change of temperature can have an effect."
Mr De Campo asked people to hold their anger over prescribed burning programs after some complained there had not been enough.
Mr Barnett reiterated that there should be more.
"This summer, it's been one fire after another," he told reporters.
"Prescribed burning is an essential preventative measure."
At Lower Hotham, the bushfire has started burning in pastoral land south of the Harvey Quindanning Road, as well as in forest.
The fire has intensified due to unfavourable weather, including variable winds. More than 50,000 hectares have been burnt, up from 30,000 hectares on Thursday.
Around Northcliffe, some 80,500 hectares have been burnt, compared to about 80,000 hectares a day earlier.
In the Perth CBD, smoke haze from the bushfires blanketed the city, prompting a warning for people with respiratory problems.
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