Latest news with #BonavistaPeninsula
CTV News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
‘Extreme wildfire behaviour' forces evacuation of Newfoundland town
A wildfire near Chance Harbour on Newfoundland's Bonavista Peninsula has damaged several structures, as shown in this handout photo from Warrick's Cove on Friday July 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Ryan Pitts (Mandatory Credit) ST. JOHN'S — Officials have ordered residents to flee a town along Newfoundland's northeast coast as an out-of-control wildfire burns just two kilometres away. An alert from the provincial Justice Department urges people in Musgrave Harbour, N.L., to leave because of 'extreme wildfire behaviour' in the area. It asks residents of the town of about 950 people to head southwest to Gander, N.L., which is about an hour's drive along a rural two-lane highway. Three water bombers and a helicopter have been dispatched to try to beat back the flames. Meanwhile, residents of two communities roughly 110 km south of Musgrave Harbour, N.L., are still on edge as another wildfire roars nearby. The fire in the Chance Harbour area ignited Monday and encompassed an area of about 16.6 square kilometres as of this morning.
CBC
6 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Chance Harbour fire has seen 'some expansion,' says fire duty officer
Firefighting efforts continue against a wildfire burning on Newfoundland's Bonavista Peninsula. Provincial fire duty officer Wes Morgan said about a dozen firefighters were in Chance Harbour, suppressing the still out of control wildfire there on Thursday. He said the work will continue throughout Friday. "The fire did not expand a lot, but there was some expansion on the head, which heads toward the saltwater," Morgan told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show. He said an update on the fire's size — previously listed as 1,200 hectares — is coming soon. Wind allowed crews to approach the southern portion of that fire, said Morgan. The perimeter is being maintained on the fire's eastern portion, he said, so nearby communities of Jamestown and Winter Brook are no longer on high alert for a potential evacuation. Morgan said firefighters are hoping for some humidity and participation, even if it's light, to help firefighting efforts. Meanwhile, some resources were diverted to a small fire that broke out in Lewisporte Thursday. "You will see some ground crews out there [Friday] morning working with local fire departments," said Morgan. "The fire has been held with quick response from the air support." According to the province's wildfire dashboard there are eight active fires as of Friday morning. 'A tense time' In Conception Bay North, some residents are facing a familiar situation. Morgan said a five-hectare wildfire came close to homes in Small Point on Thursday, but were spared from any damage, although one shed was destroyed. To the best of Morgan's knowledge, the fire hasn't spread since Thursday night. However, Small Point-Broad Cove-Blackhead-Adam's Cove residents are still on edge, with May's devastating fire still fresh in their minds. "It was a tense time for quite a while until we had a water bomber on scene," said Mayor Curtis Delaney, adding some people left town. The road through the town was closed for a short time Thursday night and police are advising residents to only travel through the area if necessary. Delaney said people are in fear of the fire turning into something like the one that ravaged Adam's Cove only two months ago. "Eventually if these fires keep up, there's going to end up being loss of life because, as I said, this is becoming a regular occurrence out here," he said. Crews are on guard against smoke and hot spots on Friday, according to Delaney, and he hopes "people might actually get a little bit of sleep."
CBC
17-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Increased fire activity expected in N.L. as temperatures climb to 30 C
While Wednesday was a "good day" for fighting an out of control wildfire near Chance Harbour on Newfoundland's Bonavista Peninsula, provincial fire duty officer Mark Lawlor says Thursday's conditions won't be as favourable. "We had the three water bombers and bird dog aircraft in the air and we held the fire on the eastern flank," Lawlor said in an interview with CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning on Thursday. "We were trying to control that side of the fire from advancing towards the communities of Jamestown and Winter Brook and we were successful in that." That fire is still considered out of control, and a high temperature creeping toward 30 C forecasted across the province Thursday afternoon won't help. Three helicopters will be dedicated to the Bonavista Peninsula area. The Chance Harbour fire remains the main focus of resources, Lawlor said. Residents no longer have to stand by for evacuation because southwest winds will blow the fire away from communities, but the hot day could change that. "We are expecting increased fire behaviour with the high temperatures and the high winds," Lawlor said. "We're going to see some more active fire."
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Heartbreak': Out-of-control N.L. wildfire continues to burn, many cabins lost
Newfoundland and Labrador officials continue to try to control a wildfire that started Monday afternoon and grew quickly in Chance Harbour, on the Bonavista Peninsula, reaching 1,200 hectares on Tuesday, according to the provincial government's active wildfire website. Ryan Pitts, whose family lost a cabin, says listening to community members grieve their properties has left him 'broken.'
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wind change causes smoky conditions over N.L. wildfire, halting use of water bombers
ST. JOHN'S — Water bombers have been forced to remain on the ground in Newfoundland because of poor visibility from wildfire smoke on the Bonavista Peninsula. The province's forest fire duty officer says the fire near Jamestown, N.L., is about 12 square kilometres in size — about the same as on Tuesday. However, Mark Lawlor says the dense smoke above the blaze is preventing firefighters from properly targeting the flames. Two helicopters remain on the scene ready to respond if the fire draws any closer to the communities of Jamestown or Winterbrook. Lawlor says a change in wind direction was the primary reason for the rise in smoke, which he said is blowing toward the two communities. He says there is still no precise estimate on how many structures have been destroyed but confirmed there have been some cabins that have burned in the area. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2025. The Canadian Press
