Residents at a seaside hamlet in Western Australia are facing an approaching uncontrolled bushfire that has forced dozens to evacuate.

The small coastal township of Ledge Point, 105 kilometres north of Perth, was warned on Monday it was no longer safe for people in the emergency warning area to leave.

“People should shelter in place,” a warning from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said.

“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.

“There is a threat to lives and homes.”

Incident controller Shaun Camp said the fire covered about 700 hectares. Another fire at the nearby Airfield Road had since been contained.

On Monday afternoon, there was an emergency warning for people in the Ledge Point town site, bounded by Old Ledge Point Road to the north.

Residents were urged to travel north to Lancelin, where there is an evacuation centre, and take emergency kits with them.

Teressa Bull was one of those who evacuated with her sons early on Monday, after police knocked on her door.

“We had a lot of sirens and a lot of knocks at our doors around 4am this morning telling us we need to evacuate,” she told PerthNow.

“As I was coming out of Ledge Point Road I could actually see the flames coming through.

“I’ve never seen a fire like this before. It’s rattled me.”

Another local Greg Smith, said he left with his young children after a doorknock about 4am.

“The police came around and told us we had half an hour to get out of town,” he said.

The fire is being treated as suspicious.

Ledge Point is a popular tourist destination.

-with AAP