WA authorities have warned there is "still a bit of work ahead" as a massive bushfire that ripped through almost 80,000 hectares of land continues to burn.
The blaze, which began on Monday morning, threatened the coastal towns of Cervantes, Wedge Island and Grey, prompting a massive response from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), volunteer firefighters and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
The fire was finally downgraded to a Watch and Act alert level on Friday night, but residents who evacuated have been warned it is still not safe to return home.
Firefighting aircraft were patrolling the fireground for flare-ups on Saturday. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd)
Minister for Emergency Services Stephen Dawson said the blaze was "enormous".
"The fire has now burned about 79,000 hectares over the last few days," he said.
"We've had amazing career and volunteer firefighters, [and] DBCA staff out on the ground over the last few days working with the local government to help bring this fire under control."
'Fantastic team effort'
Mr Dawson said there was "still a bit of work ahead over the next few days", and urged people to remain out of the area.
"As we were flying over it this morning you could see just how far the fire had spread," he said.
An incident controller briefs DFES commissioner Darren Klemm (centre) and Minister for Emergency Services Stephen Dawson. (ABC News)
"Firefighters have done an incredible job.
"The fire got very close to Cervantes, close to Wedge, and close to Grey communities, but all three remained safe.
"Even though tomorrow is the official first day of summer, our fire season has well and truly started."
DFES commissioner Darren Klemm hailed "a fantastic team performance" from all those fighting the fire, and predicted favourable conditions in coming days would help.
Road closures were still in place on Saturday. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd)
"We will start to see a real transition over the next couple of days — a bit of cooler weather tomorrow and into Monday and Tuesday will see us able to really progress ahead," Mr Klemm said.
Rescuers wait
Wildlife rescue teams are planning to enter into burnt bushland to save injured animals as soon as they have had the all clear from authorities.
Bluebush Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation chairperson Sue Rose said it could be several weeks before it was safe for teams to do so.
"It won't happen for a little while yet as the fire is still active, we do not go into the fireground until we've been given the all clear from DFES," she said.
Sue Rose says it could be weeks before it is safe to enter the fireground. (Supplied)
"It's such a vast area that we are not going to be able to even touch part of it really, so we will focus on the peripheral areas because that's where the wildlife that's struggling with water and food will head for."
Ms Rose — who operates out of Buntine, two hours from Jurien Bay — said the areas the fire had burned through were home to several native species.
"You've got your kangaroos, of course, you've got your black-gloved wallabies out that way, you have the echidnas and the bobtails, all of the lizards, all of the reptiles," she said.
"The reptiles do suffer a lot but there is a possibility of getting them on the outskirts of the fire."
She said locals should call rescue organisations if they encounter injured animals on their properties because they can be "very dangerous".
Ms Rose also said she would be collecting names of locals willing to help with wildlife rescue operations when it was safe to enter impacted areas.
"We will put messages out there when we have things arranged and then we will ask the locals for help," she said.
"We really need that local knowledge."
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