Cooler temperatures, rainfall are welcomed, says fire duty officer
Latest updates:
Off-road vehicle ban extended to until 11:59 p.m. NT on Wednesday.
Kingston fire is 9,850 hectares.
Paddy's Pond Fire is 318 hectares.
Martin Lake fire is 1,770 hectares.
Bay d'Espoir Highway reopens between Sunday Pond Resource Road to the Cat Brook turnaround.
As wildfires continue to burn out of control across Newfoundland and Labrador, cooler temperatures and rainfall are a welcome reprieve.
Provincial fire duty officer Bryan Oke said crews are on site of the Kingston fire in Conception Bay North, the Paddy's Pond fire near St. John's and the Martin Lake fire in central Newfoundland to assess conditions. He said he anticipates aerial support will fly Monday morning and ground crews will be able to set up pumps and protect structures.
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Crews made great progress on the Kingston fire over the weekend, he said, and they were able to have aerial support in the sky. He added the cooler temperatures were a welcomed change because it helps crews get access to multiple areas.
"Rain, ultimately, is going to help put these fires out. And provide needed support for our crews on the ground," Oke told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show.
He's hoping light winds and cooler temperatures will mean they can continue to successfully fight the Kingston fire.
He said Kingston fire is estimated to be 9,850 hectares but as smoke clears, the size estimate could change.
Paddy's Pond
Oke said he's hearing great progress has been made on the Paddy's Pond fire and it's almost fully contained with wet lines, adding they continue to fight hot spots.
"But it seems like that one has cooled down as well," he said.
The fire is 318 hectares, said Oke, who said it hasn't grown in the last three days.
"So hopefully the tides have changed on that particular fire."
Government extends ATV ban
On Sunday evening, the province announced the off-road vehicle ban on forested land where the fire risk is considered high had been extended until 11:59 p.m. NT on Wednesday, when it will be reviewed based on fire conditions.
Off-road vehicles include ATVs, quads, side-by-sides and dirt bikes.
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According to the provincial fire hazard map, as of Monday morning the island is considered to be between a low to very high risk of fire, whereas regions in Labrador range between low to extreme.
Premier John Hogan is giving an update on the wildfires at 10:15 a.m. NT Monday.
The provincial fire hazard map has parts of Newfoundland and Labrador from a low to extreme risk of fire. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.)
Martin Lake fire
Oke said the Martin Lake fire is about 1,700 hectares and he hopes to carry out multiple missions on Monday.
The Bay d'Espoir Highway is scheduled to reopen Monday in the area between the Sunday Pond Resource Road to the Cat Brook turnaround area.
However, access to cabin areas on Rushy Pond Road, Martin Lake Road and Miguels Lake Road will remain closed and the evacuation advisory for those areas remains in effect.
The Bay d'Espoir Highway between Sunday Pond Resource Road to the Cat Brook turnaround area is scheduled to reopen on Monday. (Danny Arsenault/CBC)
The province said all other cabin access areas off the Bay d'Espoir Highway will reopen effective 8 a.m. NT on Aug. 18, including Great Rattling Brook and Paradise Lake.
Rain, cooler temperatures
Meteorologist Hailey Wigmore said rainfall is forecasted overnight for the northwest Avalon, bringing between 10 to 15 millimetres of rain, with temperatures ranging from mid-teens to low 20s. She said the Clarenville area will have similar conditions.
Wigmore added between five to 10 millimetres of rain is also coming for the south coast.
'Narrative starting to change'
Mark Ploughman, a Small Point-Adam's Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove councillor, said the shift in weather is giving people some optimism the fire will be brought under control.
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"That feels pretty good. The narrative is starting to change a little bit. It doesn't feel as bleak," he said.
He said the community is experiencing a major disaster but the council has been focused on helping residents, adding they've extended their help to others in the area who'd been impacted by the fire.
Last week Hogan said up to 100 homes had burned because of the fire.
"They're hard phone calls to make and there's limits to what we can do as a municipality to support them. But we're going to do everything we can to help them navigate this," said Ploughman.
The full impact of the fire to the area isn't known, he said, but believes the area's beauty will return.
This article, written by Elizabeth Whitten, was originally published for CBC News
Thumbnail image courtesy: Ryan Cooke/CBC