N.L. expands evacuation orders in C.B.N., Holyrood as wildfires continue to burn
The provincial government is expanding evacuation orders on the Avalon Peninsula, as two wildfires continue to rage, driving people from their homes.
In a news release sent Tuesday afternoon, "due to changes in fire behaviour and wind predictions," the province issued an immediate evacuation order for sections of the Town of Holyrood stretching from the town boundary in the northeast, south down to the Irving Gas Station on the Conception Bay Highway.
Public Safety also ordered people in Perry's Cove — about six kilometres south of Kingston — to flee south on Route 70 to the Persalvic School Complex in Victoria, where they can register with the Canadian Red Cross.
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The government also issued an evacuation alert for people in Salmon Cove, further south.
Earlier Tuesday, several vehicles had pulled up to a barricade near Perry's Cove, to ask RCMP officers stationed there whether they could check on their homes.
Like many others from the evacuated communities in the area, the people were desperate for information on whether or not their properties were still standing.
Down the road in Victoria, a police officer arrived at the evacuation centre and shared videos of the town with several residents, who appeared relieved to see their homes unscathed.
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But officials still don't know what the raging wildfire has destroyed — only that it has taken some buildings.
"There's still a number of spots we haven't been able to get into to assess the damage," said North Shore Volunteer Fire Department Chief Roger Gillingham.
Premier John Hogan echoed that at a news conference held at noon on Tuesday, where he told reporters he could confirm the Kingston fire destroyed structures overnight, which he said wasn't surprising seeing as it had grown to 735 hectares.
At the same news conference, the Newfoundland and Labrador government issued a provincewide fire ban as two out-of-control wildfires on the island's Avalon Peninsula continue to burn and threaten more evacuations.
Forestry Minister Lisa Dempster called this summer "a fire season like no other," and the number of wildfires so far this year — 192 according to government data — is putting a lot of stress on communities, provincial services and the environment.
"A provincewide fire ban helps reduce the risk of wildfires and supports our efforts of suppression," Dempster told reporters.
The province says two water bombers, a helicopter and crews were sent to fight the wildfire burning near Kingston on Sunday. (Submitted by Ryan Pitts)
Dempster, who attended the meeting virtually, said the ban is in place until Sept. 7, and will be revisited at that time.
Violating the fire ban, she said, can result in a fine of no less than $1,000.
'Historic numbers'
Speaking on the two wildfires — one near Kingston and the other near Holyrood, which have prompted hundreds of people to evacuate this week — Hogan said he understands it's a difficult time for impacted residents.
"No doubt it is a very serious situation," he said.
Hogan asked residents across the province to be diligent about accidentally starting fires while in wooded areas, including when driving ATVs and using chainsaws.
"It's no secret this has been an unbelievable, historic, dry season on the island, which is one of the major reasons we're seeing the abundance of forest fires," Hogan said.
"We can't control mother nature of course but we can control what we're doing."
The nearly 200 wildfires this summer have burned roughly 8,400 hectares of land across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Hogan called it "historic numbers."
As of Monday morning, the Conception Bay North area is considered at a extreme risk of fire. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)
He said forestry crews are holding the line, but the fire burned aggressively through the night. He said it burned along Adam's Cove and Small Point.
That fire remains very active, and two water bombers, a helicopter and bird dog are on the scene on Tuesday, plus ground crews.
Hogan said the focus is on protecting structures in the communities and suppression efforts on the south edge — along the highway — to prevent the fire from growing in that direction.
He said there was no overnight growth on the fire near Holyrood, which is 22 hectares in size, and ground crews will work on hot spots throughout Tuesday by dropping buckets from helicopters.
"We continue to make good progress on this fire," Hogan said, adding there's no report of structures having been destroyed.
Residents in Conception Bay North have told CBC News they suspect recent fires in the area weren't caused by nature.
RCMP Chief Supt. Pamela Robinson said residents feel anxious, but investigations are ongoing.
"I need to stress that we cannot investigate what is not reported," she said.
Even if people are able to put out a small brush fire, she urged them to report it.
Firefighting efforts continue against two wildfires burning out of control on Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula. (Ryan Cooke/CBC)
Robinson said fire investigations are very complex and take time, and can be complicated further by evacuations.
She asked people with information, including about suspicious activity, to contact the local police department.
"Our communities are close-knit and information and rumours can spread very quickly, which then in turn, turn into fear and frustration," she said.
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This article, written by Elizabeth Whitten, was originally published for CBC News.