More than 200 firefighters have worked through the night to contain an out-of-control bushfire burning 40km north-east of Perth.

The blaze in the semi-rural suburb of Bullsbrook was reported at 9:20am (AWST) on Saturday and 5,5000ha of bushland had been burned by 9:15pm.

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Strong winds and hot conditions fuelled the fast-moving blaze, threatening homes and livestock with flames burning higher than rooftops at one stage.

There are unconfirmed reports that homes have been destroyed, while the Department of the Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) says more than 100 properties have been saved.

Overnight the bushfire was moving at more than two kilometres per hour in a north-westerly direction and had jumped containment lines and was burning in the Gnangara Pine Plantation towards Wanneroo Road.

Ross Delaney from the DFES said on Saturday that there were some areas where the fire was reigniting as fire crews tried to move quickly to the front of the blaze.

“It’s very hot, very windy, the fire’s very fast moving and difficult to contain,” Mr Delaney said.

He said DFES was hoping that the wind would drop and the humidity would rise overnight so firefighters would have a better chance of gaining control of the fire.

A vehicle badly damaged by fire, but which saves the lives of two people. Photo: Supplied

The DFES said the cause of the fire was unknown and the arson squad was investigating.

Blaze ‘snuck up’ on Bullsbrook, caught residents ‘off guard’

Evacuated Bullsbrook resident Todd Adkins said the fire was upon them without warning.

“It really snuck up on us and just really caught us off guard, and it was really hard to get out,” he said.

“We’d all obviously seen it but it just went a lot faster than I thought it would.

“You couldn’t see, you couldn’t breathe, and to try and drive out we had to drive through fire and everything. It was bad.”

A rescue helicopter was sent to the Great Northern Highway after a fire truck reportedly rolled and hit a tree, a St John Ambulance spokesman said.

Two people are believed to have been injured and one person was trapped in the wreckage.

One person was flown to hospital for treatment, the St Johns Ambulance spokesman said.

Fire alerts issued for residents in multiple suburbs

On Saturday, an emergency warning had been issued for an area in the north-western part of Bullsbrook and strike teams had been organised to protect more heavily populated areas.

“We’ve organised strike teams to do rural urban interface fire fighting in the areas to the west of Old Yanchep Road and also strike teams to come into the Butler area as well,” Mr Delaney said.

The DFES said people in affected areas needed to act immediately and were advised to leave if the way was clear.

DFES also issued a watch and act alert for people in Nowergup, Ridgewood, Butler, Emerald Valley and Quinns Rocks.

People in affected areas were advised to leave if the way was clear, or prepare to defend their property.

Roads were closed and authorities were asking people to avoid the area.

DFES also warned that there was ember attack and advised people to close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but leave water running through the system.

People were also warned that mains water supply may be affected, and they should not rely on it if planning to stay and defend their homes.

An evacuation centre has been set up at the Wanneroo Recreation Centre, 440 Scenic Drive, Wanneroo, and another at Gum Blossom Hall on Tapping Way, Quinns Rock.

People are moving livestock from properties close to the fire.

Aerial water bombers were sent to try to quench the flames, which were throwing a black pall of smoke over the area.

The smoke was visible from Fremantle, 68 kilometres south-west of Bullsbrook.