St. John's firefighters respond to 8 bonfires in 2 days, despite provincewide fire ban

CBC

3 days ago

Despite a provincewide fire ban in effect across Newfoundland and Labrador — and three raging wildfires — the St. John's Regional Fire Department is still responding to bonfires.
On Tuesday, Forestry Minister Lisa Dempster announced a provincewide fire ban, which will be in place for at least the next month. Premier John Hogan expressed frustration that the day the ban was implemented, firefighters had to respond to three bonfires.
Then on Wednesday, firefighters were called to another five bonfires. Platoon Chief Ed Sears said it's extremely frustrating and "mind-boggling."
"We are out doing everything we can, and there's still people [who] choose to go have their backyard fires, and not take this seriously at all," Sears told CBC News.
He said people need to be penalized for it.
"These conditions are not normal, and you have to heed the warnings that are being put out, and they have to be taken seriously."
Sears said firefighting resources are taxed because they are already focused on the current fires.
He said it seems like people are aware of the provincewide fire ban, yet they are deliberately choosing to have bonfires.
"It appears that unless it affects them directly, they don't seem to care enough. They don't worry about their neighbours, their adjacent properties."
Meanwhile, with dry conditions and no precipitation expected in the near future, Sears said the number of fires could get worse. He added St. John's is surrounded by trees and vegetation, and given the dry conditions, a fire would quickly spread.
"We all like our backyard fires, but this is a time that you need to listen to the people that are giving the directions, and absolutely have no fires whatsoever," he said.
In July, a fire started in the Quidi Vidi neighbourhood, destroying several stages and wharves, but because there was no road access, firefighters could not reach it.
Sears said terrain and other factors can make their work challenging, so they may face a similar problem in the future.
Increased fines on table
On Tuesday, Hogan said the current fines for violating the fire ban "are way too low," and he's looking at increasing them.
It's a move Sears supports.
"The government is looking at changing the amounts of fines there now, but right now, we will be taking personal information, and fines will be given out," he said.
Sears said he doesn't understand how people think they can get away with having fires, given the current circumstances. He said people are on alert for fires.
"They're not going to get away with it."