Bay d'Espoir Highway closed due to Martin Lake wildfire
In a social media post, the RCMP advised drivers that the highway is closed between the Sunday Lake Resource Road and the Cat Brook turnaround, two kilometres south of the North West Gander Bridge.
Provincial fire duty officer Mark Lawlor told CBC News on Tuesday there was some growth on the fire's northeast and southwest corners on Monday due to weather conditions.
According to the active wildfire dashboard, the Martin Lake fire is 290 hectares in size.
"We had extremely high winds, high temperatures, and low relative humidity, which led to some growth," said Lawlor.
While water bombers and helicopters were able to minimize the growth on Monday, the bulldozer and excavator working on the fire guard had to be pulled from the site because of safety concerns.
Premier John Hogan told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that two water bombers from Quebec, as well as Air Tractors and a bird dog are currently working on the fire.
The road closure comes as eight wildfires continue burn across Newfoundland and Labrador, and a new fire has ignited in Spaniard's Bay.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Extreme heat adds another challenge to drought-like conditions in Cape Breton
The grass was yellow and dry at the Open Hearth Park in Sydney, N.S., on Aug. 12. (Source: Ryan MacDonald/CTV News Atlantic) The impacts of hot, dry weather can be seen across the Maritimes, and an aerial view an even better idea of how extreme the conditions have become. 'Dry conditions, everywhere one looks,' said Michel Soucy, a photographer and artist from the Cheticamp, N.S., area who has shared several aerial photos in recent days of dry conditions in the Cape Breton Highlands. One of the photos - of a pond near Cheticamp that has been reduced to its rock bottom - has gotten plenty of reaction locally. 'Of course, it's hard not to miss the pond that's dried up out there and a few locals are indicating that's the first time they've seen that in their lifetime,' Soucy said. At Sydney's Open Hearth Park, there is dead yellow grass as far as the eye can see. 'Yeah, it's not great for business when it's this hot. Nobody wants to be under the sun and anywhere that A/C isn't,' said Rod MacNeil, who operates a food and drink canteen at the park. 'We need rain.' Even along the water on the Sydney Boardwalk, there wasn't much relief from the heat. 'It's extremely hot,' said Uli Kazmeier, who was visiting from Germany. 'I was here a couple of years ago and it was more rainy, around 20 degrees. Now, it's almost double so it's like… in Germany!' Soucy said he has heard of a few people whose wells have dried up or are getting low. The conditions have him concerned about the forest fire risk, particularly along the Cabot Trail, where in many cases there are only so many ways in or out. 'It's the last thing anybody wants anywhere, but certainly given where we live, we don't have many options to get out if something was to happen in the worst case,' Soucy said. The heat warning issued by Environment Canada for Cape Breton said conditions are expected to moderate Wednesday on the Island and along the Atlantic coast of mainland Nova Scotia. Open Hearth Park The grass was yellow and dry at the Open Hearth Park in Sydney, N.S., on Aug. 12. (Source: Ryan MacDonald/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Quebec wildfires small and under control, SOPFEU says
There are currently 12 active wildfires in Quebec, but according to the province's forest fire-fighting agency, they are all considered relatively small and under control. Malanie Morin, a fire information officer with the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU), said the fires are in line with what is expected in August in the province. 'There are a variety of causes for the wildfires we are experiencing. Several are human caused. Also, a few that are lightening. We have had different cell systems come through the last few days and we have seen the effects of those combined with the high fire danger rating,' Morin said. The wildfires range between 0.4 and 11 hectares. 'It's really been a day-by-day situation because as mentioned we have had a lot of storms systems come through and every time the amount of rain that we get is uncertain. Again, we are supposed to get rain in the next 24 to 48 hours which may bring down fire danger for a day or two.' However, she said that if a dry and hot system sets in again, the fire danger rating will once again climb. 'Right now, we are hoping that we get the precipitation that we are supposed to get over the next day or two.' The information officer added that although SOPFEU had sent firefighters out west to help with the situation there, the province had the necessary number of crews, including fire bombers, to respond to the wildfires in Quebec. 'We do have the water bombers that are in strategic different areas to be able to intervene, and we have seen them intervene over the last few days. We had two water bombers on a fire in southern Quebec on Saturday. We had water bombers again yesterday on a fire in the Tremblant area,' said Morin.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Ottawa residents on wells asked to voluntarily reduce water use
The City of Ottawa says it is advising residents in some rural villages who draw water from wells to voluntarily conserve water as dry weather conditions continue. This comes as the South Nation Conservation Authority issues a 'Level 2' low water advisory. The conservation authority declared the moderate low water condition on Monday for the South Nation River watershed. Under the advisory, all water users in the affected area who are not on the City of Ottawa's central drinking water system are asked to reduce non-essential water use by 20 per cent. 'Recorded rainfall over the past 30 to 90 days has fallen well below the long-term seasonal average. Low rainfall has contributed to reduced stream flows in the South Nation River Watershed, with many headwater tributaries going completely dry,' the conservation authority said. Ways to conserve water: Avoid pressure washing homes, driveways, and decks. Limit or delay non-essential outdoor watering; if needed, water only in the early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation. If you hold a Permit to Take Water, reduce your water takings as much as possible. In a memo to councillors and the mayor, city staff say the South Nation watershed includes portions of Ward 10 – Gloucester-Southgate, Ward 19, Orléans-South Navan, Ward 20, Osgoode, and Ward 22, Riverside South-Findlay Creek. The City of Ottawa draws its urban drinking water from the Ottawa River, and staff say the dry conditions are not affecting the central drinking water system. Additionally, staff say Ottawa's six communal well systems have not experienced water capacity constraints thus far; however, the city is recommending residents in Carp, Munster, Richmond, Greely and Vars follow the recommended water conservation measures of the applicable conservation authority, 'out of an abundance of caution.' The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority has issued a 'Level 1' low water level for the Kemptville Creek, Jock River and Lower Rideau River. The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority has issued a Level 2 alert for the Carp River watershed.
