Residents flee flames, fear for homes, as southern WA bushfire emergency worsens

A bushfire has forced the closure of South Coast Highway near Denmark. (ABC Great Southern: Tom Edwards)

Anxious residents evacuated from the path of an out-of-control bushfire in Western Australia’s south say they don’t know whether their homes have been destroyed.

Gusty winds and high temperatures are fuelling the bushfire, which is threatening lives and homes in Shadforth, just west of tourist town Denmark on the south coast. The fire is moving southwest.

An emergency warning has been issued for people in an area bounded by Scottsdale Road, Kordabup Road and Walter Road in parts of Shadforth and William Bay.

Peta Otway fled the fire front by escaping from her Shadforth property through her neighbour’s paddock.

"It was crazy," she told the ABC.

"We unlocked gates to let sheep and chooks out.

Peta Otway was forced to flee her property in Shadforth.  (ABC Great Southern: Kyle Pauletto)

"I believe the fire has burned right up to my house. I believe I still have a house but I don’t really know.

Neighbour Colin Cook said he also did not know if his house was lost.

"I was on my way home from the shops this morning and saw the first flick of flames and smoke off to my right as I got to the end of Mt Shadforth Road," he said.

"This was blowing straight towards us. There was no opportunity to do anything other than wet the house, which we did, then the fireys came and told us to get out.

"Lots goes through your mind about what’s in your house, your photos, memories.

"The hope is they can actually save the house and give us something to go back to."

Colin Cook believes his house may have been destroyed by the bushfire.  (ABC Great Southern: Kyle Pauletto)

Officials say the fire is out of control and unpredictable.

It comes as temperatures soar across the region with forecast gusty winds.

South Coast Highway is closed between Happy Valley Road and Sunrise Road.

Visitors have been evacuated from William Bay National Park, home to popular tourist destination Greens Pool, which is closed. 

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said people needed to leave the area if the way was clear and not "wait and see — leaving at the last minute is deadly".

Residents who live in the area have been told not to return home.

Residents at a roadblock near a bushfire in Denmark on WA's south coast. (ABC Great Southern: Tom Edwards)

A watch-and-act alert is in place for people in an area bounded by McLeod Road to the north and west, South Coast Highway to the south and Happy Valley Road to the east.

The bushfire started near the intersection of Bayview Rise and McLeod Road at 9.25am.