'As bad as it gets': C.B.N. fire destroyed buildings and homes, residents say
Residents in the community of Small Point-Adam's Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove have been forced to flee from a raging wildfire that has destroyed buildings and homes.
"This is about as bad as it gets … in a beautiful little place like this," Bernie Judge, a resident of Adam's Cove, told CBC News Wednesday night.
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Wildfires cropped up across the Avalon Peninsula throughout Wednesday, the most dangerous of which is in Small Point-Adam's Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove in Conception Bay North. Residents of the area who spoke with CBC News described large flames and black smoke that crossed roads.
Judge said there was a fire in the same area on Tuesday, but fire crews were able to handle it. On Wednesday, things were different.
"This one got out of control, and it's after jumping the road. We're pretty sure there's some buildings, homes, lost. And we're just hoping that ours is still in place," he said.
"It just feels really surreal," Ruth Riome, Judge's wife, added.
Smoke is spreading across Conception Bay North. Julie Hyde took this photo from her home in Ochre Pit Cove. (Submitted by Julie Hyde)
Earlier in the day, provincial forest fire duty officer Jeff Motty told CBC News the fire is big, very active and out of control — and that homes had been "ignited."
Fire crews remain on scene, he said in an update at around 8:30 p.m. NT Wednesday, and that multiple water bombers had been deployed.
Judge and Riome said people had to act fast once the decision to evacuate had been made. Riome said she scrambled to help her neighbour collect her valuables.
"I went over with her and collected the pictures off the walls of her house," Riome said. "Then I went to get Bernie, and they wouldn't let us back in again."
The RCMP had closed the road between Adam's Cove and Western Bay, telling residents to travel south toward Victoria or north toward Lower Island Cove. Newfoundland Power also cut electricity in nearby Ochre Pit Cove, Burnt Point and Kingston.
Judge was out of Adam's Cove at the time, but hurried back to save his dogs and cat. He said he convinced a police officer to take him back to his home so his pets could be saved.
Jeff Motty is the supervisor of forest insect disease and fire control for Newfoundland and Labrador. (Troy Turner/CBC)
"I've always been really concerned that if there was a fire, there could be some imminent danger to us. But you just never think that would happen," he said.
"This is everything. This is our retirement.… We love this place."
Rest stops have since been set up at Persalvic Elementary School in Victoria and the AYLA building in Lower Island Cove for those who are unable to return to their homes.
Fires still burn in Fermuse and Holyrood
There are also two active fires burning in Fermuse and Holyrood.
Motty said a helicopter and ground crews were on the scene in Fermuse. A cabin was impacted by the fire, but he had no further information as to whether it was occupied. The fire was burning out of control as of Wednesday afternoon.
The fire near Holyrood is in the Hardings Pond area. The province's wildfire dashboard says it's one hectare in size as of 9 p.m.
(Submitted by Gerry Rogers via CBC)
Crews also responded earlier on Wednesday to a fire at Joes Lake, northwest of Badger. It was 25 per cent contained as of Wednesday afternoon, Motty said, but hotspots still remained following the use of a water bomber.
At 9 p.m. Wednesday, the dashboard reported the fire was zero hectares in size.
In total, five fires were reported on Wednesday afternoon on the Avalon Peninsula alone. One in St. John's behind the Johnson Geo Centre and another in the Paradise area.
Motty says they have been designated as out.
"We're getting some warm temperatures right now and it's nice that we're coming out of winter. But, you know, the vegetation on the ground is very dry," he said.
"It, like, only takes an hour or an hour-and-a-half of those grasses ... to become very ignitable."
Smoke from the fires led Environment Canada to issue a special air quality statement. The statement covers St. John's and the surrounding area and the northern Avalon Peninsula.
Those who are more susceptible to outdoor air pollution, like those over 65, pregnant or with existing illness, should reduce outdoor time and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms, the statement said.
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Thumbnail courtesy of Katie Breen/CBC.
This article was originally written by Alex Kennedy and Abby Cole, and published for CBC News. It contains files from Terry Roberts and Katie Breen.