4.45pm Western Power expects to have the Margaret River network rebuilt by this evening.

It received access to the Prevelly and Gnarabup area this morning and crews are now working to replace 18 poles that were destroyed in the fire in that region.

A further 10 poles were burnt down in the Kilkarnup area.

Crews will continue to work into the evening and expect to get all poles replaced by nightfall.

Once the network has been rebuilt Western Power will wait for the all clear from FESA before re-energising the lines.

In the Prevelley to Kilkarnup region nearly 500 properties are without power.

About 40 properties near Redgate are also without power

At the request of FESA power has been turned off to a small area near Nannup while fire fighters work in the district. This is affecting about 20 customers

4.36pm A community meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow at 10am.

Meanwhile residents have been escorted through the fire zone to witness the devastating impact the blaze has had on their properties.

WAtoday.com.au reports in eerie scenes in Orchid Ramble, a bright blue jumper hung from a Hills Hoist clothes line immediately next to a destroyed shed.

Next door, a sign with 53 written on it still stood, indicating the property number, but the house no longer existed.

Embers continued to flicker in some spots, while smoke trawled across the road and a chalet welcoming visitors to Isaac's Ridge was surrounded by a charred mess.

Most of the homes have crumbled to ash, the streets flattened and scattered with debris.

4.19pm FESA has issued its latest fire alert which can be found here.

Meanwhile it's a Christmas miracle! The baby ring-tail possum has been named Santa. read about his rescue and recovery here

2.31pm A baby ring-tail possum has been treated for sever burns to its paws and is recovering well. See the photo in our updated gallery

1.52pm State Government Environment Minister Bill Marmionwas given a grilling earlier.

Under intense pressure to explain how his department allowed the state emergency to occur, he said he would accept blame, reports WAtoday.com.au

"Sure, the buck stops with me, unfortunately," he said.

"It's my responsibility and it's my responsibility to make sure there's a proper review."

He said it was "unfortunate" that high winds on Tuesday and Wednesday led to the burn getting out of control and destroying homes.

"There is an inherent risk unfortunately with controlled burns and this is one of the 2 per cent of controlled burns that do get out of hand," he said.

"The review, hopefully, will show they followed the normal procedure.

"I'm pleased to come down here and see the mopping up is being done."

Emergency Services Minister Rob Johnson was also due to address the media but a lack of time meant he escaped what was likely to have been a similar grilling.

1.20pm Number of houses destroyed has been updated to 37.

11.03am DEC state duty officer Terry Maher has apologised on ABC Radio to residents whose homes were destroyed by fire.

"It was not intentional and we'll do our best to look after those people from here on in," he said.

He also said it wasn't the first time a prescribed burn had got out of control but was fairly sure it was the first time properties had been destroyed or damaged.

"I understand the issues that we'll have to deal with going forward but I'll make the point that we did 3.2 million hectares of burning last year and we didn't have any escapes that impacted on anybody," Mr Maher said.

10.35am WAtoday.com.au who is on the ground at the community meeting reports DEC incident controller Roger Armstrong says the first priority today is clearing roads and re-establishing normality.

The evacuation order for Caves Road west and the Margaret River townsite is now being lifted.

There are more areas to follow with the aim of having as many people as possible gaining access to their homes, with those who lost property to be escorted in first.

"The easy part is containing a fire, the hard part is having to make you people wait,' he told the crowd.

No homes are at risk today and authorities are working to allow all evacuated residents back to their homes to "normalise" the community.

The public will be allowed in when roads open, expected to be this afternoon.

The meeting has been told that almost all who have suffered severe damage and lost homes have been notified.

"We'll open most of the unaffected areas by end of shift today," DEC’s Roger Armstrong said.

Redgate will most likely be the first area opened.

Prevelly and Gnarabup may take a little longer due to the reconnection of power and water, as well as other safety issues.

"Conditions have got better and we're on the up," Augusta-Margaret River shire president Ray Colyer added as he applauded all the firefighters and volunteers.

10.23am DEC incident controller Roger Armstrong tells a packed community meeting that the weather is good news for the town.

"The weather is favourable today, tonight and tomorrow," he said.

"Yesterday was hectic.

"It was a hard day for firefighters going house to house in breathing apparatus but they saved 370 homes in Gnarabup yesterday."

Those gathered at meeting reportedly erupted into applause upon hearing the brave work conducted by firefighters yesterday.

10.12am A quick reminder that donations should be dropped at the Montessori school and not the cultural centre as there is no room.

Blankets, food and money donations are most welcome.

10.01am Latest reports say Prevelly and Redgate residents will today be escorted by authorities to survey property damage.

It will be at least a week until the area is declared safe.

The community meeting has been shifted to the basketball courts due to the amount of concerned locals who have turned out.

More than 1500 have showed up according to 6PR Radio.

9.50am WAtoday.com.au is down at the evacuation centre where the community meeting has been told that the fire is not fully controlled or contained.

Losses have been incurred in Prevelly Gnarabup and Redgate, and no homes are currently at risk.

Prevelly is unlikely to be rendered safe for several days

Incident controller says today is normalising community, looking at getting evacuees back into their homes and reopening roads.

There has been confirmation that there has been no loss of life or any injury over the past three days.

Firefighters are reportedly 'downbeat' that homes have been lost, despite saving hundreds of other homes from the blaze.

9.16am Loud cheers have reportedly been heard at the evacuation centre as heavy rain begins to fall bringing a sense of relief to the community.

A community meeting is scheduled to start in just over half an hour. Crowds have started to congregate to hear the latest information.

Are you on Twitter? Follow us on Twitter for the latest updates or check out our Facebook page - Augusta Margaret River Mail.

8.52pm Perhaps it's a sign from the heavens as a light drizzle has been falling in Margaret River this morning.

There are also reports of a more upbeat mood at the evacuation centre.

Meanwhile Western Power today hopes it can gain access to sites to restore power.

8.05am WAtoday.com.au reports that on the beach yesterday, residents braced themselves from the fire's impact by getting low to the ground.

Some even sought refuge in the ocean, where the water chilled their overheating bodies and provided some psychological comfort.

At one stage, some huddled under a boat ramp to avoid the worst of the searing heat.

"It was quite terrifying," one of those stranded, Janet Dufall, told WAtoday.com.au

"I thought [the fire] was gone but then it changed. It just kept coming and coming and coming.

"Not in my wildest dreams did I think that would happen."

Mrs Dufall and husband Barry had decided on Wednesday they would stay and defend their Gnaranbup property.

They got three hours sleep in between putting out embers and hosing down the outside of their homes.

By 8am yesterday, they and their neighbours were fleeing.

Mrs Dufall said supplies were shared among the group and the owner of the near Sea Gardens Café had left the key for residents to access food, although at one point authorities in the area were concerned gas bottles at the cafe would erupt.

Several hours into their ordeal, snack packs were brought in from Margaret River.

"Everyone was very anxious and as the day progressed; nobody expected to be holed up like that all day," Mrs Dufall said.

Friday 7.34am Good morning we are back on deck to keep you updated on the devastating fires which have ripped through Prevelly and Gnarabup.

There is a sense of hope in the air this morning as authorities hope a change in the weather will allow firefighters to bring the blaze under control.

According to FESA today’s forecast is for moist westerly winds and lower temperatures.

There may be some drizzle later this morning. Fire crews will take advantage of these conditions to reinforce containment lines.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a much cooler 24 degrees for today with a low-moderate fire danger.

A bushfire emergency still stands for people in the area south of Carters Road, north of Forest Grove Road and Conto Road on the west side of Bussell Highway south of the industrial area .

Twenty-five houses and nine chalets have been lost to the fire including the historic Wallcliffe House. Properties have been burnt or damaged at Prevelly ,Gnarabup and Redgate localities.

A review of roads affected by the fire and evacuation areas was begun overnight, according to FESA.

A community meeting will be held at 10am at the Margaret River Cultural Centre.

The fire is estimated to have burn about 2865 hectares within a 42.5km perimeter.

Another large contingent of fire personnel from DEC, local volunteer bushfire brigades and Fire and Rescue Service have been on the scene overnight.

A large number of fire trucks and heavy machines continue to be sourced from a wide area of the South West.

Firefighters will make the most of the milder conditions to fully contain and prevent further escapes. The emphasis also is on inspecting roads so they can be reopened.

Western Power crews are working to re-establish power.

People in the Margaret River townsite and greater fire area, including all areas south of Forest Grove Road and Conto Road on the west side of Bussell Highway are being advised to stay alert.

8.56pm We are going to wrap up tonight's coverage now but will be back nice and early in the morning. Visit www.fesa.wa.gov.au for further updates. A Total Fire Ban has been declared tormorrow, Friday, for the shires of Augusta-Margaret River, Busselton, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Donnybrook-Balingup, Manjimup and Nannup.

8.05pm While cooler conditions tomorrow are predicted to make it easier for firefighters to control the fire FESA has just issued a severe fire danger advice for parts of the South West land division.

A full list of towns and shire in the region can be found at www.fesa.wa.gov.au

Residents are urged to stay alert and watch for signs of fire, especially smoke and flames.

Have your bushfire survival plan and kit ready.

7.46pm The latest alert from FESA advises the potential for severe bushfire behaviour still exists.

"The fire has crossed the Margaret River mouth and is currently impacting Prevelly and the south-eastern edge of Gnarabup townsite.

"Spot fires have developed in the vicinity of Terry Drive and are burning aggressively in a south easterly direction and have crossed Redgate Road in the vicinity of Redgate Beach.

"Winds are moving westerly during the evening, with conditions easing. Homes are still at risk of being damaged by the fire and you need to keep up to date.

According to FESA the blaze is likely to have burnt through about 2400 hectares.

Firefighters are actively engaged in firefighting at Prevelly, Cherry Road and Burnside Road. Western Power crews are working to re-establish power.

7.40pm There have been conflicting reports just how many properties have been damaged or destroyed in the fire but according to FESA chief executive Wayne Gregson 21 houses, nine chalets, five sheds and two other buildings had been damaged.

7.28pm Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan has told ABC Southwest Radio the current plan was to make sure there were enough resources on the ground for tomorrow.

He said it was important to make sure the firefighters were fresh for tomorrow as some of them had been working for up to 12-13 hours at a time.

He said about 400 emergency personnel were at the fire zone and extra resources would not be required.

According to Mr O'Callaghan winds were set to abate and he said "there's a real hope this fire will brought under control tomorrow" and he had a "high level of optimism".

7.00pm More than 400 brave firefighters are still on the ground hoping conditions will improve tomorrow.

Meanwhile it has been confirmed the historic Wallcliffe House has been damaged in the fire.

Twitter has been inundated with tweets of support for those who have been affected by the devastating fires.

@tazdogga tweeted "thoughts with all affected by #wafires. In support I will drink Margaret River wines this weekend".

@lewshort14 tweeted "when our basic instinct is to run away from #fires, firefighters run in. Amazing job. Thanks :-) #WAfires #Margaretriver".

@TheHorseResor t has offered accommodation via the social networking site "if you are a homeless evacuee tonight - we have some emergency accomodation - 97578135 #WAfires".

6.40pm According to WAtoday.com.au reporter Jenna Clarke, who is currently at the Margaret River townsite, the 30 people who were evacuated by jet-ski from Prevelly Beach have been taken to the evacuation centre.

6.25pm FESA spokesman Allen Gale has told ABC Southwest Radio he is "quite optimistic" firefighters will be able to get the fire under control tomorrow as cooler conditions are forecast.

However he said they were also aware "conditions can get out of control very quickly".

Meanwhile according to its Facebook profile Bradshaws Mitre Ten in Margaret River was forced to evacuate earlier this afternoon.

A recent status update reads "We've had to evacuate the store a few hours ago... fingers crossed!!!"

5.58 A community meeting will be held tomorrow at 10am at the evacuation centre next door to the Margaret River Shire office.

Conditions are set to get worse tonight and residents are reminded to stay safe.

At least 30 properties have now been confirmed as either damaged or destroyed by the fire.

These include homes and chalets.

ABC Southwest Radio reports thick smoke has rendered water bombing aircraft helpless.

5.41pmSky News has reported several wineries have been forced to evacuate in the Margaret River region including Voyager Estate and Leeuwin Estate.

Meanwhile about 350 school leavers have been forced to make alternative arrangements for their end of year celebrations.