Fire authorities have confirmed several structures have been damaged by twin bushfires that threatened lives and homes near the WA port city of Geraldton, with one burning close to a heavily populated residential area.

Key points: DFES has denied early reports from the Geraldton mayor that two homes were lost

DFES has denied early reports from the Geraldton mayor that two homes were lost Two fires were reported about 40 minutes apart, in the north and east of town

Two fires were reported about 40 minutes apart, in the north and east of town High temperatures and strong winds have created "perfect" fire conditions

Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn earlier told ABC Radio Mid West and Wheatbelt that four homes had been damaged by the fires, which triggered emergency warnings.

But Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Superintendent Midwest Gascoyne region Craig Smith said the damage had been contained to some outbuildings.

"We can say that we have not lost any houses, there's been some damage to some garden sheds and some fencing, but it's been a good outcome," he said.

Mr Van Styn said high temperatures and strong winds had combined to produce challenging conditions for fire crews.

"[We are] fighting fires on two fronts in absolutely atrocious conditions for fires of course," he said.

"[It's] 38 degrees and howling an east-north-easterly — a perfect storm, if you will, for fires."

A bushfire is threatening homes in the Geraldton suburb of Utakarra. ( ABC News: Natasha Harradine )

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Adam Conroy said fresh northerly winds were blowing and temperatures had reached 41 degrees Celsius in the region.

"We're probably looking at wind gusts up to 40–50 kilometres per hour for our inlet sea breeze through the remainder of the day [which] also can be a problem as it would potentially change the direction of any fire movement," he said.

Utakarra fire downgraded

An earlier emergency warning for people in the southern part of the suburb of Utakarra, on the eastern edge of the town of about 35,000 people, has now been downgraded.

The fire has been contained but is under control.

The Utakarra fire has been downgraded, but people are being urged to remain vigilant. ( ABC News: Francesca Mann )

Mr Smith said it was important people remained vigilant.

"On days like we had here, where it's been hot and windy, and it's been very dry these fires can travel, they get into the bush and they can travel very fast and they can burn very fiercely," he said.

"So we need the community to make sure they're certainly aware of those conditions and remain vigilant and be careful of what they're doing."

The bushfire burnt fences on Newton Road in the Geraldton suburb of Utakarra. ( Supplied )

Second blaze north of city

Meanwhile, a bushfire that triggered an emergency warning in the northern Geraldton suburbs of Glenfield and Drummond Cove has been downgraded to a watch and act advice.

Residents in the area of Glenfield Beach Drive, Hillview Drive, Reef Boulevard and Chapman Road have been told to leave or get ready to actively defend their homes.

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Mr Smith said the fire is contained but not yet under control and there is a lot of smoke in the area/

"The crews are making sure that they can take control of the incident, at this stage there's no damage at all at the fire at Glenfield."

The fire started near the intersection of Glenfield Beach Drive and Chapman Road, and was reported at 12:38pm.

Roads have been closed and people are being asked to stay out of the affected areas while firefighters work to bring the flames under control.

Mr Smith said the weather was now easing and helping fire crews contain the blaze.

The Utakarra bushfire was burning in scrub land adjacent to Abraham Street. ( ABC News: Francesca Mann )

"The weather here was very windy, and very hot and dry when these fires started, so it was a lot of work for the fire crews to get on top of those fires," he said.

"But the weather has now come around, we've got a bit of a southerly change which has helped us significantly in both those jobs."

Almost 900 homes in the Drummond Cove area are without power.

Several local roads are closed across the Geraldton district.