Bulldozer, excavator on site of Kingston fire to build fire guard, says fire duty officer

CBC

5 days ago

Latest updates:
Kingston fire is 2,175 hectares, "had some growth" on Thursday.
Officials are building a fire guard on southern flank of fire.
Holyrood fire is still 22 hectares, Martin Lake fire is 230 hectares.
Heat warning in effect for northern Avalon Peninsula and northeastern region of Newfoundland.
Special air quality statement still in effect for portion of the northern Avalon Peninsula.
Evacuation orders still in place for Kingston, Perry's Cove, Western Bay and Small Point-Adam's Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove, sections of Holyrood and Conception Bay South.
Evacuation orders still in place for cabin area off of Route 360, Bay d'Espoir Highway, extended to Rushy Pond.
Evacuation orders expanded Thursday to Ochre Pit Cove and Salmon Cove.
Town of Victoria is on an evacuation alert.
Three wildfires continue to burn out of control on Newfoundland, and have forced hundreds of people across several communities on the Avalon Peninsula out of their homes.
The wildfire in Conception Bay North continues to burn out of control and preventative measures are being brought in to contain its growth, says an official.
Provincial fire duty officer Mark Lawlor said the Kingston fire is still out of control and it had "some growth" on Thursday toward the community of Ochre Pit Cove. As of its last mapping, it is 2,175 hectares in size.
"We're building a fire guard on the southern end of that fire so we're going to continue with that. They have a bulldozer and an excavator there grubbing off the shrubs and trees on top," Lawlor told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show.
He said the Kingston fire is an active fire, with lots of smoke and hot spots, adding it is still torching trees.
"The fire is still moving," he said.
Lawlor added the fire burning near Holyrood is still staying steady at about 22 hectares and while there was no growth recently, trees are still getting torched and there are plenty of hot spots.
On a positive note, Lawlor said the firefighters should have hoses positioned all around the fire on Friday.
Lawlor said on Thursday they had to divert a water bomber fighting the Kingston fire to one on the Burin Peninsula.
He said that fire is now considered as held and people will be back on site Friday.
"That one we're feeling pretty comfortable with," he said
On Friday morning the St. John's Regional Fire Department said it was called to six bonfires overnight, despite a provincewide fire ban in effect.
Premier John Hogan announced he was moving quickly to hike fines for breaking the ban, which could go as high as $50,000.
Environment Canada has two weather alerts in effect for the province, with a special air quality statement remaining in effect for the north and northeastern Avalon Peninsula.
A heat warning is also in effect for eastern and central Newfoundland regions, as well as parts of Labrador.
Meteorologist Hailey Wigmore advised people people to drink water often, close their blinds and shades, as well as use a fan or stay in a cooler part of the home.
She added the light winds are bringing Kingston fire smoke and haze over the St. John's region for Friday.
"Looking ahead, there's not really any appreciable rain," she said, "So it's pretty much these dry conditions for at least the next little bit into the future," said Wigmore.
Mark Ploughman, a councillor for Small Point-Adam's Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove, said there was a big change in the Kingston fire, forcing an evacuation order for Salmon Cove and Ochre Pit Cove.
The evacuation centre has moved from Persalvic School Complex in Victoria to Carbonear Academy in Carbonear, which he saidis a larger and newer facility.
"Things are running pretty smoothly there, from what I saw," said Ploughman.
He said people are still facing uncertainty and are stressed because they don't know when the evacuation order will be lifted and they'll be able to go home.