Paddy's Pond industrial area evacuating due to out-of-control wildfire

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20 hours ago

The provincial government has issued an evacuation order for the Paddy's Pond industrial area.
The evacuation zone includes Akita Equipment and surrounding buildings and hangars. It comes after the Thomas Pond wildfire ignited along the pole line near Paddy's Pond, between the Trans-Canada Highway and Fowler's Road, around noon on Monday.
The RCMP said the Trans-Canada Highway has re-opened, but secondary roads in the Paddy's Pond evacuation area remain closed. Fowler's Road at Peacekeepers Way is also closed to southbound traffic.
In a post on social media Monday afternoon, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said police, emergency, and fire services are at the scene.
"Members of the community are asked to avoid the area while emergency responders navigate response and suppression efforts," the post said.
WATCH | Paddy's Pond fire has residents of nearby communities on edge:
Akita Equipment co-owner Amy Furey Howlett also posted on social media on Monday afternoon. She asked anyone with a Class 1 driver's licence for help, as the company worked to move its equipment away from its facility on Paddy's Pond Road.
According to the province's active wildfire dashboard on Monday afternoon, the out-of-control fire was 170 hectares in size.
Provincial fire duty officer, Mark Lawlor, said three water bombers were diverted from the Kingston fire to try to suppress the Thomas Pond fire. Helicopters and firefighters from the St. John's Regional Fire Department are also on the scene.
Lawlor told CBC's On The Go that all efforts are concentrated on keeping the wildfire away from the Conception Bay Highway.
"We're trying to work that fire literally into Paddy's Pond if we can. We're going to try and work the northern flank, and turn the fire as best we can. That's the goal," Lawlor said. "The primary concern is to try to ensure that it doesn't reach the C.B.S. highway and cross over."
Premier John Hogan said there is no imminent danger to anyone living in the communities near Paddy's Pond, but the wildfire is moving fast.
"It's moving toward Paddy's Pond right now," Hogan said during a live wildfire update Monday afternoon.
He said power interruptions are expected. Lawlor confirmed that one transmission line has been shut down after Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro posted a public advisory on its website. It said the fire is directly in the public utility's transmission corridor, which serves the St. John's metro area.
"There is a potential for smoke, fire and/or fire suppression efforts to impact these lines. In the unlikely scenario that multiple lines are impacted, this could result in a power outage to St. John's and surrounding areas," the advisory said.
The Town of Conception Bay South issued a traffic advisory following the evacuation order. The town asked drivers to avoid the C.B.S Industrial Park and Fowler's Road.
Mayor Darrin Bent told CBC News some drivers were stopping to take photos of the smoke along Peacekeepers Way, and it was causing traffic delays and congestion along the highway.
The Town of C.B.S. is also closing all of its indoor and outdoor recreation facilities to reduce unnecessary travel within the town and on town roads.
Drivers are asked to avoid unnecessary travel through the town at this time.
Meanwhile, the City of St. John's is advising that smoke from the fire has reduced air quality throughout the city and its surrounding areas.
"Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed and to turn off air exchangers and HVAC units to help reduce indoor smoke exposure," City of St. John's spokesperson, Jackie O'Brien said in a news release.