'Get out, get out, get out': Paradise evacuee recounts rushed evacuation

CBC

2 days ago

Business owner Rod Coward said he was doing a delivery for his tent rental company when his cell phone chimed with an evacuation order.
He lives in the Three Island Pond area of Paradise, N.L. which was ordered to evacuate on Tuesday due to the nearby Paddy's Pond wildfire.
"I had to dump off the gear as fast as I can, and then beat it back so I could get all my animals, my dogs and cats," Coward told CBC News.
He said the evacuation order didn't surprise him. With the Paddy's Pond wildfire burning nearby, Coward said he was monitoring the fire and winds closely.
"In my business, you're watching the winds all the time, and I could see that the wind was going to veer around to my place. So I knew it was coming pretty quickly," he said.
"You could see plumes of smoke bellowing for kilometres."
But after experiencing an evacuation order, Coward now advises anyone on an evacuation alert to be prepared — because evacuations happen quickly.
'Only had time to grab what you pre-packed'
When Coward arrived back at his home to quickly gather his pets and belongings, he said police were already knocking on doors to ensure everyone was leaving.
He said the streets were also blocked off at all access points.
"There was no, 'Well, I need you out in half an hour.' It's, 'Go get your dogs, go get your cat, and get out.' There was no timeline other than right now," Coward said.
He said his bag was packed, but he had to leave some of his business equipment and keepsakes behind.
"There's a few things there that, in hindsight, I really wish that I had grabbed. But when the police were literally at the door — they were saying, 'Get out, get out, get out' — you really only had time to grab what you pre-packed and prepared, and jump and run," he said.
Evacuation alerts
Meanwhile, some other parts of Paradise, as well as parts of Conception Bay South, and the St. John's neighbourhoods of Southlands and Galway are all on evacuation alerts due to the Paddy's Pond fire. The town of Victoria is also under an evacuation alert due to the Kingston wildfire.
In Paradise, the area on the south side of Topsail Road from the Outer Ring Road exit to the C.B.S. boundary is on an evacuation alert.
In Conception Bay South, all properties east of Manuels River are on an evacuation alert.
The provincial government advises that people need to be prepared with a basic emergency kit, including items such as food, water, batteries, a portable radio, important documents and prescription medications.