(Photo via Facebook.)
An update on the condition of the Bay D’Espoir Highway is expected this afternoon as several “out of control” wildfires continue to burn in the area.
The road was closed overnight as crews battled the flames. The cause of the fires has not yet been confirmed, but provincial fire marshal Bryan Oke says there were several lightning strikes in the area before the fires started.
He says the scale of the fires has posed a challenge for fire crews, but notes that responders have done an “exceptional” job with their response so far.
He says they have three water pumps, four helicopters and 24 personnel deployed and are in a position to provide regular updates throughout the day.
Oke says dealing with these fires this time of year is not unusual.
He says they had several weather-related fires last week, but he expects as the fire season goes on things will start to calm down.
According to the wildfire index, the highest risk of wildfires in the province is currently in the center, south coast and Avalon.