People living in Newman have been told a deliberately lit bushfire is burning towards the town.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services issues a "Watch-and-Act' warning on Saturday afternoon saying the fire had jumped Great Northern Highway and was burning towards the East Pilbara town.
"The alert level for this fire has been upgraded. There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is burning in the area and the conditions are changing," said the warning.
"You need to leave or get ready to actively defend. The fire started near the intersection nof Marble Bar Road and Great Northern Highway. It is burning in a north westerly direction towards Newman."
People in the path of the fire have been told to leave immediately or, make final preparations to fight the fire.
People from the area who are not at home should not return because conditions in the area could be very dangerous.
DFES says the bushfire is out of control and unpredictable. Great Northern Highway and Marble Bar Road are both closed.
The fire was reported on December 7 and has burnt through 2500 hectares. Firefighters say it was deliberately lit.
A total fire ban covers huge areas of the state, national parks have been closed and the temperature in Perth peaked at 37 degrees.
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