The Premier is asking residents of central Newfoundland communities to prepare for a possible evacuation due to growing wildfires in the region.
No evacuation order has been given yet. Premier Andrew Furey says the move is not to create panic, but to be prepared because of the rapidly changing situation.
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Premier and Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Derrick Bragg spoke from Gander on Sunday morning.
Furey said smoke and poor air quality in the region were the main concerns that led to the decision to call for preparations.
“The fire is not on a direct route to these communities at this particular time,” Furey said. “However, the change in wind patterns could have significant impacts from smoke in these communities, Bishop’s Falls and Grand Falls-Windsor.”
Furey said people who live in these areas with lung problems, such as asthma, should consider getting out before the big smoke.
Premier Andrew Furey and Minister Derrick Bragg addressed the province from Gander, asking the area to prepare for a possible evacuation. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)
The Prime Minister has also asked “Central Health to begin a triage evacuation plan for people in their facilities.” This includes Grand Falls-Windsor Hospital, as well as long-term care facilities and personal care homes in the area.
As for the Connaigre Peninsula, Furey said a state of emergency was declared there due to the closure of the Bay d’Espoir highway.
“We are currently establishing a ferry and it is on its way to provide services from Fortune to Hermitage, and this will be established shortly.”
He says the current situation is constantly changing.
A wildfire breaks out near Bay d’Espoir Highway in NL on Saturday, August 6, 2022. (Submitted by Derrick Bragg)
“We’re hoping for a little rain and it’s all been to no avail,” Furey said.
The announcement comes less than twelve hours after the Prime Minister declared a state of emergency in the region covering Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop’s Falls and the Connaigre Peninsula, and just an hour after Minister Bragg extended the ban regional wildfires across the province due to the ongoing situation. dry and windy weather.
State of emergency declared
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador has declared a state of emergency in parts of central Newfoundland as wildfires continue to rage.
The state of emergency covers the Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop’s Falls and Connaigre Peninsula areas.
I have approved a request for federal assistance from @GovNL in response to active wildfires in the province. Our @CanadianForces staff will work with provincial and municipal officials to plan and coordinate evacuation and movement operations from affected areas.
I have approved a request for federal assistance Bill Blair tweeted: “Approved a request for federal assistance from @GovNL in response to active wildfires in the province. Our @CanadianForces staff will work with officials provincial and municipal to plan and coordinate evacuation operations and movement of affected areas./Twitter” in response to active forest fires in the province. Our Bill Blair on Twitter: “I have approved a request for federal assistance from @GovNL in response to active wildfires in the province. Our @CanadianForces staff will work with provincial and municipal officials to plan and coordinate operations of evacuation and movement of affected areas. /Twitter” will work with provincial and municipal officials to plan and coordinate evacuation and movement operations of affected areas.
— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) Bill Blair on Twitter: “I have approved a request for federal assistance from @GovNL in response to active wildfires in the province. Our @CanadianForces staff will work with provincial and municipal officials to plan and coordinate evacuation and movement operations from affected areas. / Twitter”
In a video statement posted on social media Saturday night, Premier Andrew Furey called it the worst fire situation in Newfoundland since 1961 and said that while the fires do not threaten communities at this time , “the wind is changing and the smoke distribution pattern. will change significantly.”
“This is a dynamic situation,” he said, flanked in the video by Forestry Minister Derrick Bragg and Incident Commander Jason Glode.
Furey said they have asked the Central Health region to create an evacuation plan for their hospitals, long-term care homes and personal care homes in case of need, and people living in affected communities. they should also be alert for possible evacuation.
“We don’t want to create panic, but we have to act responsibly given the current threat level,” he said.
In a tweet Saturday night, federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said he had approved the Newfoundland and Labrador government’s request for assistance from the Canadian Forces. Blair said staff will help “plan and coordinate evacuation operations and movement of affected areas.”
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Fires in central Newfoundland have been burning for two weeks, and the largest, near the Bay d’Espoir highway, has forced the closure of the only road in and out of the Connaigre Peninsula.
In Saturday night’s video statement, Bragg said officials are concerned that given the forecasted weather conditions, this fire will combine with another fire near Paradise Lake.
“We can see the fire running up to 10 kilometers,” Glode said. “That puts us about 10 to 15 miles from Grand Falls-Windsor, and our main concern would be smoke, but also embers and hot ash and things falling onto properties.”
By Sunday afternoon, temperatures in central Newfoundland could reach 28 degrees Celsius and winds could gust to 35 kilometers per hour.
Glode is asking people in the affected communities to “fire smart” on their properties, such as cutting grass, clearing mulch and any flammable material around their property, and cutting down any trees that support their homes.
Glode said crews are building a firewall along the province’s transmission lines.
“That’s our line of defense in terms of affected communities, if the fire gets to that point,” he said.
Environment Canada has issued an air quality statement for northeastern Newfoundland, including Grand Falls-Windsor, Clarenville, the Bonavista Peninsula and the Newfoundland area.
This story was originally published for CBC News on August 6, 2022. Contains files from Matt McCann and Peter Cowan.