The highway link across the Nullabor in Western Australia has been closed as a fire burns out of control, with travellers urged to reconsider their plans in coming days.
The Eyre Highway is closed between Norseman and Caiguna and an emergency warning has been issued for people travelling on the road near the Balladonia Roadhouse and the southern part of Balladonia.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said people at the Balladonia Roadhouse should leave and head west to Norseman.
Earlier on Feb. 21, Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm warned the highway may be closed as firefighters battling the blaze contended with strong winds and high temperatures.
“We’ve deployed extra resources to the fire ground to help bring it under control,” he said.
The fire was first reported on February 7 and has burnt 16,794 hectares.
In Perth, the arson squad is investigating if a flare sparked a bushfire that threatened homes and patrons at an ice skating rink and a theme park in the city’s south.
People in Adventure World and Cockburn Ice Arena in Bibra Lake were told to shelter in place late on Feb. 20 as the blaze ripped through seven hectares of bushland.
It has since been controlled but not contained, according to a Department of Fire and Emergency Services alert issued on Feb. 21.
WA Police say the blaze initially started about 2.20am and was extinguished by firefighters.
But it re-ignited about 12 hours later at 2.40pm due to the extreme weather conditions.
“[It] quickly became a significant bushfire, threatening lives and homes,” a spokesman said.
Police said there were unconfirmed reports a flare had been spotted before the fire started early on Tuesday morning, Feb. 20.
Investigators want to speak to anyone who saw the flare or any suspicious people in the area between 2am and 2.30am.
