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Latest updates:
- Kingston fire is now 9,838 hectares.
- Paddy’s Pond fire is 318 hectares.
- Martin Lake fire is 2,160 hectares.
- Evacuation order lifted for Three Island Pond area in Paradise on Friday afternoon.
- Cabot Academy elementary school in Western Bay destroyed.
- Air quality warning in effect for northern Avalon Peninsula and St. John’s area.
- Evacuation alert issued for Job’s Cove, on the north side of Conception Bay.
- About 100 homes destroyed by Kingston fire, including at least 33 homes in Small Point-Broad Cove-Blackhead-Adam’s Cove, and at least 10 homes in the community of Kingston.
Air support was grounded Friday morning, as the Kingston fire in Conception Bay North continued to grow and burn out of control at 9,838 hectares.
“Weather conditions can dictate what we do, and this is the first day we’ve had low ceilings, there’s low ceilings right now,” Premier John Hogan told reporters on Friday during a live update that began at 10:15 a.m NT.
“As of this moment the air assets are unable to get to the Kingston fire, and they can’t fly. But we will continue to monitor that throughout the day.”
However, Hogan said the weather conditions improved on Friday. He said the drop in temperature, forecasted rain and shifting winds could help fire suppression.
He said there were 80 Canadian Armed Forces firefighters and 20 Ontario firefighters helping with the effort on the fire’s northern flank, working to protect structures and put out hot spots.
Job’s Cove residents remained on evacuation alert Friday morning.
Safety is first priority
Craig Coady, director of the province’s wildfire program, said the first priority is the safety of people. After that, it’s protecting properties and infrastructure.
“The question we have to ask ourselves when planning out operations each day: Are we putting our first responders or our citizens at undue risk?”
Coady said they have to look at the conditions when deciding how to fight a fire, and the low ceiling in the St. John’s area meant aerial support couldn’t fly.
Cabot Academy destroyed
Education Minister Bernard Davis said the Kingston fire destroyed Cabot Academy elementary school in Western Bay.
“This is certainly a massive loss for the community, but we are here to support the school community, and provide as much information and support as we possibly can,” Davis said.
He said students and staff will have a place to go in the new school year.
Everyone affected will be contacted in the coming days with more information, Davis said.
Meanwhile, he said he doesn’t anticipate any delays to the school year for students and staff returning to schools that were being used to support evacuees and firefighters.
Evacuation order lifted for Three Island Pond
As for the Paddy’s Pond fire, Hogan said it was about 306 hectares and was still very smoky with hot spots.
He was hopeful cooler temperatures and about five millimetres of rain would help fire suppression.
He said helicopters would drop buckets of water on the fire on Friday, and there were 30 ground crew on site. He said the fire guard construction was also going well.
At 12:30 p.m. NT on Friday, the Town of Paradise announced the evacuation order for the Three Island Pond area was lifted, and residents could return home. However, the area was placed on an evacuation alert, along with the other parts of the town which were previously put on alert.
The areas of Paradise under an evacuation alert on Friday included the portion of Paradise on the south side of Topsail Road from the Outer Ring Road exit to the Conception Bay South boundary, including the Three Island Pond area.
Martin Lake area cabins sprayed down
Hogan said the Martin Lake fire was 2,190 hectares in size Friday morning.
He expected cooler temperatures and rainfall would help suppress the fire, but the Bay d’Espoir Highway remained closed until further notice.
“Cabins in the area were sprayed down, and we continue to assess the impact on the Rushy Pond cabins,” Hogan said.
He said four helicopters, a bird dog and two water bombers would be on site Friday, as well as a ground crew.
Another fine issued
Hogan said there was an illegal fire in Gander on Thursday, so another $50,000 fine was issued for violating the provincewide fire ban.
RCMP Chief Supt. Pamela Robinson said the police were investigating fires, and asked people to report suspicious behaviour.
“Actions have consequences,” she said.
Robinson said people could face serious penalties, including tickets, fines and jail time.
Air quality warnings
The heat warning issued by Environment Canada that had been in effect for several days was lifted, but an air quality warning due to the Kingston and Paddy’s Pond fires was in effect for the northern Avalon Peninsula and St. John’s area on Friday.
Meteorologist Justin Boudreau said there was more smoke coming from the Kingston fire rather than the Paddy’s Pond fire.
“The trick will be this evening when the winds shift from southerly to northerly, the plume from the Kingston fire is probably going to sweep across the Avalon,” he said.
There will likely be a brief period of low air quality Friday evening in the St. John’s metro area, and areas south of the fire, he said.
Boudreau said between two to four millimetres of rain was expected to fall over the region on Friday, adding there was a good chance of thunderstorms moving across the island, which might bring rainfall.
He said periods of drizzle were expected overnight until Saturday morning, with temperatures dipping as well.
“What the showers will do — not entirely sure. It may improve things for sort of Friday night into Saturday, but I would expect it’s probably not going to be enough to put that fire out.”
An air quality statement was also in effect for parts of central Newfoundland due to the Martin Lake fire.
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