Bibra Lake bushfire: Residents told to stay alert as blaze rages at Adventure World

Perth school holiday rite of passage Adventure World is in the middle of a bushfire warning area after a fire started in Bibra Lake on Tuesday.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued an emergency evacuation warning just after 4pm on Tuesday for people in the vicinity of Adventure World and Cockburn Ice Arena.

A DFES spokeswoman said the emergency warning was issued as properties were “under ember attack” as winds up to 20km/h were blowing burning embers towards Cockburn Ice Arena, Adventure World and Bibra Lake homes.

People in the vicinity were told to “shelter in place,” before the emergency was downgraded to watch and act advice just after 5.30pm.

Residents are still advised to stay alert and watch for signs of bushfire as conditions continue to change into the evening.

The out-of-control blaze was first reported about 2.40pm on Tuesday afternoon in bushland west of North Lake Road and has since slowed as it heads north-east across the lake and parkland area.

More than 35 firefighting crews were quickly sent to the scene to battle the flames as six helicopters and two water-bombers were above the blaze, dropping heavy water loads to stem its spread.

Soaring temperatures amid a severe heatwave are threatening to derail fireys efforts, as the temperature topped 38.4C and wind gusts up to 30kmh were recorded about 3pm in Bibra Lake — right as the blaze was taking hold in the area.

About 80 firefighters are directly attacking the head of the fire and building containment lines to prevent it from kicking off again.

The amusement park in Perth’s south is closed on Tuesdays but the ice rink is open until 10pm during the week.

Bushfire advice is in place for people in the area bounded by Osprey Drive, Spearwood Avenue, Sudlow Road, Phoenix Road, North Lake Road, Progress Drive, Bibra Drive and Gwalia Place in Bibra Lake as the blaze threatens homes in the nearby suburbs.

Bibra Drive between North Lake and Hope roads — on the right-hand side of the lake — has been closed.

North Lake Road between Elderberry Drive and Discovery Drive has also been closed.

Adventure World has a history of going up in flames, one of the last blazes in January 2021 burnt a patch of grass between the park and the ice rink.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said firefighters responded to more than 100 incidents across WA on Tuesday — with more than half of those being fires in “very testing conditions”.

“We have resources on standby to ensure we have the capacity to manage large-scale incidents if needed,” Mr Klemm said.

“This includes five strike teams in the Metropolitan area, made up of volunteer groups between Gingin and Mandurah, to assist with any major incidents.”

The WA and National Large Air Tankers are both in Busselton and ready to be deployed as required.