Evacuation order expands in Newfoundland's Conception Bay North region

An evacuation prescribe for communities in the Conception quest magnetic north neighborhood has at present been expanded to include Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay.

The announcement was made just after 3:15 p.m. NT Saturday. Impacted residents have been asked to travel north on Route 70 to Carbonear, where they are required to register with the Canadian Red Cross at Carbonear Academy.

Alternatively, residents can register by calling 709-729-0921.

Evacuation orders remain in Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove, Western Bay, Salmon Cove, Kingston, Perry's Cove and Ochre Pit Cove. The town of Victoria remains under evacuation alert.

In a post on social media Saturday morning, the Town of Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove says the size of the fire has grown to 3,001 hectares.

Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove Mayor, Curtis Delaney, confirmed Saturday morning that nine homes have been destroyed by the fire. 

Delaney says property owners have been notified and couldn't confirm which communities saw property damage. 

And, Delaney says things could still change. 

"This is still a very dangerous situation, very volatile," he said. 

The town says personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces and Ground Search and Rescue are arriving Saturday. 

Throughout the day Friday, the province says the lack of wind supported efforts on the fire. Four water bombers, three helicopters and ground crews attacked the fire throughout the day. 

Lawlor says fire crews worked the fire's southern end and around the communities. They also started building a fire guard on the fire's northern flank. Crews will continue this work throughout the day Saturday. 

Earlier in the day, Crime Stoppers began offering a $5,000 award to anyone who offers information that leads to the identification and arrest of anyone responsible for starting fires in Newfoundland and Labrador.

At Saturday's update, Premier John Hogan said he hopes offering this award, along with the ability to provide information anonymously, will lead to a charge or conviction of anyone responsible for starting fires.

"It's very clear that this is an extraordinary circumstance that the province is facing," he said. 

Across the province, there are about 3,000 individuals and 1,500 households under evacuation orders, said Hogan. 

As high temperatures and winds mean potential challenges for fire suppression efforts this weekend, Hogan says the government is working to do what they can to support individuals impacted by the fires.

Health Minister John Haggie also announced that households that have evacuated their primary residences will also receive a $500 payment. 

The government will be working with the Red Cross to determine a way to distribute these funds, and more details will be available in the coming days, says Haggie. 

Haggie added the government is consulting with insurance companies and will be developing new policy in the coming days for future fires. 

As fire suppression support comes in from Quebec and Ontario to fight three out of control wildfires across N.L., some Holyrood residents can head back home. 

Two water bombers and a Bird Dog aircraft from Quebec are expected to arrive at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, said Lawlor. 

The province also says 20 firefighters from Ontario will be arriving throughout the day Saturday. 

Hogan said out-of-province supports have more than doubled fire suppression efforts. 

"It also helps to provide a breather for the hard working crew and the volunteers who have been working intensely over the last week," he said.

However, Hogan anticipates this weekend's weather conditions will lead to very active fire activity throughout Saturday. 

"Winds, unfortunately, are expected to pick up to 20 km/h gusting up to 40 km/h west and southwest today," said Hogan. "So it will be a serious risk throughout the day as we continue to monitor the Kingston Fire."

Friday evening, some Holyrood residents were allowed back home, as the evacuation order from 377 Conception Bay Highway to 103 Conception Bay South Highway, by Murray's Peak Hiking Trail, has now ended.

Conception Bay South Mayor Darrin Bent, said it was great to hear that a large portion of Holyrood could return home, Friday. 

"That was absolutely fantastic news," he said. 

Bent says around 100 people in Holyrood and around 15 to 20 homes in C.B.S., near the area where the fire first began, remain evacuated.

Still, the province says there has been progress toward suppressing the Holyrood wildfire. Throughout the day Friday, crews hosed around the fire, containing its growth and allowing for more hot spot work, says the province. 

The Holyrood fire remains approximately 22 hectares, but Lawlor says that there was no open flame on Friday. 

Lawlor said that fire is now just hotspots and ground crews and a helicopter continue to work on it. 

"That's some good progress on that fire yesterday," said Lawlor on Saturday. 

The province says the plan for Saturday is to continue with suppression and helicopter bucketing when needed.

A hose line is in place around the entire fire perimeter and staff continuing to dig out and wet hotspots," Hogan said. 

The Martin Lake fire also still burns near the Bay D'Espoir highway, and cabins in the area remain evacuated. 

That fire increased slightly to about 245 hectares in size, with some growth on the North and South edges, said Hogan. 

Lawlor says an air tanker, helicopter and three planes from New Brunswick, plus ground crews, worked the fire Friday. 

While there are a lot of hot spots, he says there was minimal growth on Friday.

Crews also started a fire guard that made good progress, said Lawlor. 

Hogan said there is a fuel break being constructed as well, and that weather conditions will create challenging fire behaviour throughout the day Saturday.

Hot temperatures and increasing winds over the weekend are anticipated to make for taxing conditions as fire suppression efforts continue.

"It's going to be a difficult weekend on the firefighters, but however we're hopeful we can keep those fires contained with the resources we have and the resources that are coming in," said Lawlor. 

Lawlor is also urging people to not have backyard or camp fires over the weekend, and says they're still getting reports of people having open fires. 

"I can't stress enough, especially given the hot, dry conditions we're experiencing right now. No open fires," he said.

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