The fire started on the opposite side of Bayview Drive from the beach car park about 4pm and quickly burned up the steep and difficult terrain immediately to the north of the town.

A south-east wind drove the fire away from houses, but north towards Cowaramup Bay Road, Gracetown’s only access road.

Police move quickly to close Cowaramup Bay Road to all but emergency services traffic, but later in the evening people were allowed to leave Gracetown under police escort.

Fifty Bush Fire Service volunteers from five brigades and Department of Environment and Conservation firefighters were aided by a helitac, two fixed-wing water bombers and an aerial intelligence helicopter in battling the fire which burned fiercely in very difficult terrain.

The fire leapt Bayview Drive and burned scrub near the boat ramp car park but was contained before it could get into Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park north of Cowaramup Bay Road. About 12ha of scrub was burned.

A Fire and Emergency Services Authority Bushfire Watch and Act alert for Gracetown residents was downgraded about 9pm Tuesday and Cowaramup Bay Road reopened to traffic at 10pm.

However, fire crews were still mopping up today, Wednesday, and the Augusta-Margaret River shire has asked drivers to heed a 40kph temporary speed limit because crews are working close to the road.

Anyone with information on the cause of the fire is asked to phone Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.