Potential rainfall brings hopes for a 'good day' in N.L. wildfire fight

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Rainfall in the calculate paired with chilling temperatures and higher relative humidity in the air has Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial fire duty officer hopeful the fight against out of control wildfires will take a positive turn.

Mark Lawlor said incoming rain and break in hot temperatures "most certainly will" help firefighting efforts.

He said high relative humidity on Thursday will also help firefighters on the ground as well as make fire suppression efforts from the air more effective.

A heavy capacity helicopter that arrived in Gander on Wednesday is also a boon, he added, as it can carry 4,000 litres of water. The helicopter will be used this morning.

Premier John Hogan will be giving a wildfire update at 10 a.m. NT.

Lawlor said the Paddy's Pond fire is still considered out of control but the fire didn't grow overnight.

"Which is a good story. And hopefully with the higher relative humidity today we'll have a good day working on that fire," he said.

The Paddy's Pond fire is now about 250 hectares in size and Wednesday's suppression efforts were "very successful."

He added he hoped with aircraft and ground crews, they could continue to hold the fire throughout Thursday.

Lawlor said he hadn't received a report on the Kingston fire but as of his late report, it was around 6,500 hectares.

"We did see some extreme fire behaviour on the Kingston fire, on the northern section of that fire yesterday."

He said on Wednesday crews were on ground on its southern boundary, adding they did "good work."

A sprinkler line has also been set up around Perry's Pond in order to prevent possible back burning from the wind, said Lawlor.

They have also constructed two kilometres of fire guard on the north side of the fire in case of any growth.

He said the Holyrood fire is considered under control and they will continue to monitor the fire for the next few days.

According to Department of Justice and Public Safety spokesperson Justin Humber 1,902 households and 3,590 individuals have registered with the Canadian Red Cross because of the wildfires as of Wednesday.

On Wednesday evening the evacuation advisory expanded for cabin owners near the Martin Lake fire. The evacuation area now includes the Paradise Lake area, in addition to the previously-issued advisories for the Martin Lake, Great Rattling Brook and Rushy Pond areas and access roads. The forestry department advised all cabin owners to leave immediately.

The Bay d'Espoir Highway between Sunday Pond Resource Road to the Cat Brook turnaround is closed.

Lawlor said the Marin Lake fire in central Newfoundland didn't grow overnight but added on Wednesday it did double in size and moved north, across Great Rattling Brook. There was also some movement to the south.

"Thankfully it didn't cross the Bay D'Espoir highway and we'll be back on that fire today with aircraft and ground crews," said Lawlor.

Environment Canada has two weather alerts issued for the province — an air quality statement is in effect for the northern Avalon Peninsula and St. John's area, as well as a heat warning for most of the province.

Meteorologist Robert Grove said the Avalon Peninsula is getting a cold front with showers late Friday afternoon and into the evening, with weekend temperatures dipping into the mid-teens.

"A stark difference but I imagine a welcomed difference for many," he said, adding the drop in temperatures is good news for efforts to fight wildfires.

"You don't have the hot temperatures and that takes part of their fuel source away."

While the forecasted rainfall won't be a "deluge" Grove said it will be a "good amount of rain" on Friday night, possibly between five to 10 millimetres.

"Obviously we need a lot more but it's a good start."

He said the Avalon Peninsula will be cloudy but still warm.

"Still not cool enough for sure for what most people are looking for at this point,"

He said the winds will be southerly, gusting from 30 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres per hour and smoke from the Paddy's Pond fire will blow over to the Conception Bay South area. The Kingston fire's smoke will blow up the northern portion of the Bay de Verde area.

A regional state of emergency is still in effect for portions of the Bay de Verde Peninsula, Conception Bay South, Paradise and parts of St. John's known as Southlands and Galway.

Evacuation orders are in effect for Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove, Kingston, Salmon Cove, Western Bay, Perry's Cove, Ochre Pit Cove, Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay, Paddy's Pond Industrial Area, as well as the Three Island Pond area in Paradise.

Some communities are also on an evacuation alert, including Victoria, as well as parts of Conception Bay South, Paradise, and the neighbourhoods of Southlands and Galway in St. John's.

The provincial fire hazard map still considers most of the island of Newfoundland at an extreme risk of fire, with portions of the west coast considered to be between very high and extremely high risk of fire. Labrador is considered to be between a moderate and an extreme risk of fire.

On Wednesday Premier John Hogan announced an off-road vehicle ban, which includes ATVs, in forested areas where the fire index is between high and extreme. It will be in effect until Aug. 17.

Some health care services continue to be negatively impacted by the wildfires.

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services announced on Wednesday some services at acute care facilities in St. John's would be postponed throughout the week by the wildfires, including urgent and emergent surgeries and non-urgent outpatient endoscopy procedures.

"All services and appointments will continue to be assessed throughout the week and updates will be provided if needed," said the statement. 

Reporter

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