Evacuation alerts lifted in Job's Cove, Freshwater, amid C.B.N. wildfire
Latest updates:
Evacuation alerts lifted for Job's Cove and Freshwater.
Evacuation centre at Carbonear Academy will be relocated before Sept. 3.
Both the provincial and federal government will match every dollar donated to the Canadian Red. Cross 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador wildfires appeal.
Paddy's Pond fire is under control, at 318 hectares.
Martin Lake fire is being held, at 1,770 hectares.
Off-road vehicle ban lifted as of 11:59 p.m. NT on Wednesday.
Kingston fire is 10,095 hectares.
203 structures have been destroyed by Kingston fire.
The provincial fire duty officer says now that the Kingston wildfire is the only one burning out of control in Newfoundland, it frees up resources to fully focus on getting it under control.
On Thursday the province downgraded the Paddy's Pond fire from being held to under control, and the Martin Lake fire is now being held.
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Jeff Motty said the Kingston fire is 10,095 hectares.
"We're just going to continue to dig in until we can change the fire status on Kingston," he told CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning
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"A lot of work ahead of us," he said.
Motty said 11 helicopters are assigned to the Kingston fire, and water bombers will also work on it all day, weather permitting.
"Things are moving in the right direction," he said.
'Really good status' Meanwhile, Motty said the Martin Lake fire's boundaries are contained, and it hasn't grown. It is 1,770 hectares.
He said fire crews will continue to work on hot spots on Friday, but a lot of tall trees in the area are acting as fuel for the flames.
"So they've got to work a little bit harder to make sure those hot spots are out before they move on, but they're making great progress."
The Martin Lake fire was recently downgraded from out of control to being held, which Motty said is a positive sign.
Premier John Hogan will give a wildfire update on Friday at 10:15 a.m. NT.
'Tricky day' Meteorologist Graham MacDonald said weather will continue to be cool with a chance of showers in the Avalon Peninsula region.
Weather conditions might make for a "tricky day" fighting fires, said MacDonald.
"Only because of the wind, if there is still some, like, sparks still around — the winds will kind of [be] kicking some up," he said.
Hurricane Erin will have lost power by the time it reaches Newfoundland and Labrador, he said, but it's impact will still be felt.
"It will be kicking out some surf as it passes by," MacDonald said, but the storm will not bring much rain to the region which is needed for firefighting efforts.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the Burin Peninsula because of the hurricane and is warning of waves that could reach up to four to six metres, pounding surf and high water levels.
People are warned to stay a safe distance from the shore because of how quickly waves can move.
There is also a special air quality statement due to the Kingston fire smoke for the north Avalon Peninsula.
As of Friday morning, only a portion of the island is considered to be at an extreme risk of fire. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)
According to the provincial fire hazard map, as of Friday morning most of the island is at a moderate risk of fire, though there is a portion on the west coast considered at a low risk and a section in central Newfoundland where it is very high.
The Avalon Peninsula is also at a high risk, with a portion of the island from Bonavista Bay down to the Burin Peninsula at an extreme risk of fire.
Labrador ranges from a low to very high risk of fire.
A provincewide fire ban is in effect until at least Sept. 7.
Evacuation orders, alerts
A regional state of emergency is in place for a portion of the Bay de Verde Peninsula, from Bristol's Hope to Whiteway.
Evacuation orders remain in effect for Small Point-Broad Cove-Blackhead-Adam's Cove, Kingston, Salmon Cove, Western Bay, Perry's Cove, Ochre Pit Cove and Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay.
An evacuation alert is still in effect for Victoria. On Friday morning, Premier John Hogan lifted the evacuation alert for Freshwater and Job's Cove.
Access to cabin areas on Rushy Pond Road and Martin Lake Road are closed and the area is under an evacuation advisory. A portion of the resource road at Miguel Lake is open only to cabin owners.
As the wildfire suppression transitions to recovery efforts, Hogan said both the federal and provincial government will match every dollar donated to the Canadian Red Cross 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador wildfires appeal.
"For every one dollar donated, it's actually three dollars," Hogan said.
Meanwhile, ahead of students going back to school on Sept. 3, Hogan said the evacuation centre at Carbonear Academy will be moved.
He said the province is looking at lodging evacuees at motels and other accommodations used for temporary foreign workers in Conception Bay North.
This article, written by Jenna Head and Elizabeth Whitten, was originally published for CBC News. With files from The St. John’s Morning Show and Newfoundland Morning
Thumbnail image courtesy: Canadian Armed Forces