Prime Minister John Hogan offers an update on the situation of forest fires in the NL
Prime Minister John Hogan will provide an update on the state of forest fires at 1:00 pm on Saturday.
As support for fire suppression comes from Quebec and Ontario to fight three forest fires out of control in NL, some Holyrood residents can return home.
Two water bombers and a Quebec bird dogs are expected to arrive at 6:00 pm on Saturday, says NL fire service officer Mark Lawlor.
The province also says that 20 Firefighters of Ontario will arrive throughout the day on Saturday.
In a publication on social networks on Saturday morning, the city of Small Point – Adam’s Cove –Blackhead – Broad Cove says that the size of the fire has increased to 3,001 hectares.
The city says that the staff of the Canadian Armed Forces and the search and rescue on the ground are arriving on Saturday.
Throughout Friday, the province says that the lack of wind supported the efforts in the fire. Four water bombers, three helicopters and land crews attacked the fire throughout the day.
Lawlor says that fire teams worked at the southern end of the fire and around the communities. They also began building a fire guard on the north flank of the fire. The teams will continue this work throughout the day on Saturday.
The evacuation orders remain in Small Point – Cove -Blackhead – Broad Cove of Adam – Blackhead, Western Bay, Salmon Cove, Kingston, Perry’s Cove and Ocher Pit Cove. The city of Victoria remains under evacuation alert.
9 houses destroyed
Poall Point – Adam’s Cove – Blackhead – Mayor of the Cove de Broad, Curtis Delaney, confirmed Saturday morning that nine houses have been destroyed by the fire.
Delaney says that the owners have been notified and could not confirm which communities saw damage to property.
And, Delaney says things could still change.
“This is still a very dangerous, very volatile situation,” he said.
Evacuation raised for some
On Friday night, some Holyrood residents were allowed at home, since the evacuation order from 377 Conception Bay Highway to 103 Conception Bay South Highway, by Murray’s Peak -Hocking Trail, is over.
The mayor of Conception Bay South, Darrin Bent, said it was great to hear that a large part of Holyrood could return home on Friday.
“That was absolutely fantastic news,” he said.
Bent says that about 100 people in Holyrood and around 15 to 20 homes in CBS, near the area where the fire began, remain evacuated.
Even so, the province says that there has been progress to suppress the Holyrood forest fire. Throughout Friday, the teams were placed around the fire, contain their growth and allow more hot work, the province says.
The Holyrood fire is still approximately 22 hectares, but Lawlor says he hadn’t called open on Friday.
Lawlor said that the fire is now only access points and land crews and that a helicopter continues to work on it.
“That is a good progress in that fire yesterday,” Lawlor said on Saturday.
The province says that the plan for Saturday is to continue with the suppression and bulge of helicopters when necessary.
Lake Martin’s fire also burns near the Bay d’E spoir road, and the cabins in the area remain evacuated.
Lawlor says that an oil tanker, helicopter and three New Brunswick aircraft, more earth equipment, worked the fire on Friday.
While there are many hot points, he says there was a minimum growth on Friday.
The teams also started a fire guard who made good progress, Lawlor said.
Weekend of ‘taxes’
It is anticipated that increasing temperatures and winds during the weekend produce serious conditions as fire extinguishing efforts continue.
“It will be a difficult weekend in firefighters, but nevertheless we hope we can maintain those fires contained with the resources we have and the resources that are coming,” Lawlor said.
Lawlor also urges people not to have fires in the backyard or camp during the weekend, and says they are still receiving reports from people who have open fires.
“I cannot stress enough, especially given the hot and dry conditions we are experiencing right now. There are no open fires,” he said.
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