‘Not out of the woods yet’

Favourable wind, rain and aggressive firefighting help keep huge fires from advancing closer to communities

Wildfires in central Newfoundland have grown to cover an approximate area of 200 square kilometres, producing smoke seen for miles, but favourable winds and aggressive firefighting have kept that heavy smoke away from nearby communities.

The state of emergency for Grand Falls-windsor, Botwood, Bishop’s Falls and the Coast of Bays region remains in place. Residents of communities closest to the fires have been asked to stay ready for a potential evacuation should conditions change.

“We still want people to be very ready. (Tuesday) is a positive day, it’s an optimistic day, but we are still in the first phase of a gigantic fire, 200 square kilometres,” Premier Andrew Furey said during an update on the forest fire situation Tuesday, Aug. 9.

“People need to still have a heightened sense of readiness, not panicked, but be ready should the conditions change. We all live in Newfoundland and Labrador and we know the weather can change in a heartbeat,” Furey said.

“People in Grand Fallswindsor may look out today and say the air is not that bad, but the fire is only 25 kilometres away and if that volume of smoke turns, as we know the winds can change in Newfoundland and Labrador, we don’t want people caught short, so we want them ready. We are not out of the woods yet. This fire is still very active. Even though you may be feeling a sense of security because you can’t see it in your community, please don’t be panicked, but be ready should an evacuation be required.”

As a precaution, Central Health has transferred a number of patients and vulnerable residents out of its facilities. About 65 people have been evacuated from long-term care facilities in the Central Health region, while another 40 acute-care patients have been transferred to Eastern Health facilities, and another five to Western Health.

Furey said if an evacuation order is made, things will move quickly.

“What we all saw on Saturday was an incredible volume of smoke that was only 25 kilometres away from Grand Falls-windsor and Bishop’s Falls. That volume of smoke would cripple and potentially harm people within the community. The path of the fire, how it’s travelling from a burn perspective, does not appear to be enroute to Grand Falls Windsor, but the smoke is so close.

“That’s why we took the responsible move of evacuating vulnerable people first, people in hospital beds, in acute-care facilities, longterm care homes, because you can’t evacuate them in a minute. Because if we say ‘go now,’ it’s too late to see who’s taking John in the stretcher, or who is taking Aunt Marg who can’t get out of her house and is in a wheelchair. So this is why we wanted to do this in an orderly fashion, so if we do have to evacuate these communities, No. 1, the vulnerable people, the people with ambulatory issues, health concerns, have already been evacuated. And No. 2, people have already been on high alert now for a couple of days, so they presumably would have a go-bag ready and some valuables ready to go if needed.”

More good news on Tuesday was that the Bay d’espoir highway (Route 360) was reopened to allow residents, stranded travellers and goods to pass through the area that had been closed due to the fires and smoke. Should conditions worsen, the highway will be closed again.

A late-day news release warned that overnight visibility may be reduced and residents should drive carefully on the highway. The decision to keep the highway open will be reassessed Wednesday morning, as weather and visibility conditions could change.

“Forest resource roads along the Bay d’espoir highway remain closed and cabin owners should refrain from entering the area,” the news release stated. “If you are currently in the area, please vacate immediately, as you are endangering yourselves and first responders.”

Earlier in the day, following reports that some people may have headed to their cabins, the government issued a notice asking people not to go to their cabins in the area.

“These are active fire areas. They’re not safe, and it interferes with crews fighting the fire,” the advisory stated.

As of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Paradise Lake fire was estimated at 10,558 hectares and still out of control. The fire near the Bay d’espoir highway was estimated to be 5,727 hectares, and a fire at Southern Lake Access Road was estimated to be about 283 hectares.