Changing weather conditions show the damage caused by a wildfire near the Bay d’Espoir Freeway in central Newfoundland. Officials say air quality is better than expected and crews will be able to fight the fires on foot Thursday. (Darrell Roberts/CBC)
The sizes of the major wildfires burning in central Newfoundland are starting to stabilize, and weather conditions are finally allowing crews to fight the fires on the ground.
Provincial wildfire officer Jeff Motty says the Paradise Lake fire south of Grand Falls-Windsor has not seen any change in size since the last update Wednesday, while the fire burning near the Bay d’Espoir highway has been reduced by 155 hectares. The fires cover 17,233 hectares and 5,614 hectares respectively.
“Things are becoming more stable,” Motty said Thursday morning.
“I don’t want to kid myself by saying something like ‘we’ve turned a corner’ because that happened to me last week, but we’re definitely seeing a change in conditions in place that is more favorable.”
Improved conditions allow the Bay d’Espoir Freeway to remain open Thursday, but the Department of Transportation says the road will be reassessed daily. Drivers should drive with caution as visibility could be affected, and the department is asking people not to stop on the road.
Another prominent fire is at Southern Lake, located north of Grand Falls-Windsor near the community of Point Leamington. That fire is about 283 acres, Motty said.
A change in winds, along with reduced smoke and less intense burning from the fires, allows ground crews to tackle the fires on foot Thursday. Much of the firefighting so far has been done by air, as conditions had largely been unsafe for firefighters to tackle head-on.
“I think the winds will be in our favor today. They won’t be too high, so hopefully the smoke won’t be a major issue for a lot of communities that have been affected in the past,” Motty said.
Two major wildfires burning in Paradise Lake and near the Bay d’Espoir Freeway are beginning to stabilize, according to wildfire officer Jeff Motty. Officials are also monitoring two smaller fires, shown on this map. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)
An Environment Canada special air quality statement remains in place for Grand Falls-Windsor and its surrounding areas, including Bishop’s Falls and Badger.
Winds shifted from the south overnight, and officials predicted gusts could bring heavy smoke from the Paradise Lake fire into the region. However, Environment Canada meteorologist Mike Vandenberg said air quality has been better than initially expected.
“We haven’t seen any evidence of smoke on the satellite in the center, but it’s pretty cloudy, so it could be hiding things,” Vandenberg said Thursday morning.
There is a slight smell of smoke outside our Grand Falls-Windsor hotel this morning, but there is no widespread smoke or fog in the city at this time.
The best we can find is the water vapor that rises from feats. . pic.twitter.com/ef71T6bCTo
—@HeatherMGillis
“The air quality appears to have improved much more than we initially expected… [but] If the fire changes throughout today, it could certainly drag some smoke into Grand Falls-Windsor and that general area.”
According to Environment Canada, winds are expected to remain out of the south at around 15 km/h throughout Thursday and Friday.
The area will see a mix of sun and cloud to accompany the wind and highs near 21 C. Skies will cloud over overnight, with temperatures dropping to 13 C.
Air quality advisories in other central Newfoundland communities were lifted Thursday morning, but Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop’s Falls and Botwood remain in a state of emergency.
Wildfire Officer Jeff Motty says conditions are becoming more favorable for fighting the two major wildfires burning in central Newfoundland. (CBC)
Forest access roads remain closed despite the reopening of the highway, and Motty reminded cabin owners in the area that they should not be in the area to check on their properties.
“Just because it’s in [the perimeter] it doesn’t mean your cabin is on fire. We’re actually transitioning now to where we can get people on the ground … and get helicopters to fly those areas.”
Motty says crews hope to conduct overflight assessments of the structure in the coming days and share the details directly with cabin owners.
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