Latest news with #ConceptionBayNorth
CBC
7 days ago
- General
- CBC
Residents of Conception Bay North are working to claim one of their own from a hospital freezer
People in Conception Bay North are planning a fundraiser to hold a funeral for a local man whose unclaimed remains have been held at a St. John's hospital for years. The CBC's Mark Quinn reports.
CBC
26-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Out of the ashes: Volunteers help Adam's Cove wildfire victims recover irreplaceable items
A group of volunteer veterans, first responders and other skilled civilians are helping residents in Adam's Cove recover precious items from their homes that were destroyed in a wildfire in early May. Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organization that responds to natural disasters like forest fires. "We came in as a humanitarian organization to sift through the homes to help the homeowners find anything that's valuable or [a] memento," said N.L. team lead Matthew Barron. "Could be diamond rings, wedding rings. Sometimes we found valuables like gold or silver," said Barron. "Just mementos that they were afraid they might have lost." The wildfire destroyed 12 homes in the community, leaving lots of burned debris. Alongside sifting, Barron said they will also remove any hazardous trees and other dangers. Team Rubicon sent volunteers from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ottawa to help out in Adam's Cove. The organization was founded in 2010 by a U.S. veteran after the Haiti earthquake. It than grew and established itself in Canada after the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. Now the organization is expanding and looking to help more communities impacted by disasters, like wildfire in Conception Bay North. This is the team's first operation in N.L. and they're forming a volunteer base in the province. Barron says Team Rubicon is filling in the gaps for disaster relief. "There's nobody else in Canada who is doing sifting operations for homeowners and nobody who is doing muck outs or doing chainsaw work." Rewarding work for volunteers Barron says the victims have been grateful for their help. "I mean it's helpful to give them closure," said Barron. "Everybody here is a volunteer and we don't do it for anything other than it just feels great to help people in their time of need when they've literally lost everything." Barron is a veteran himself, now retired after serving 20 years. "I found Team Rubicon as a way to utilize my skills to give back to the community," he said. WATCH | Volunteer veterans help with clean up and recovery after Adam's Cove wildfires: Sifting for hope: volunteer relief group Team Rubicon responds to Adam's Cove wildfires 6 hours ago Duration 2:07 Veteran-led disaster relief group Team Rubicon offers their volunteer services to the residents of Adam's Cove who lost their homes in the wildfires in early May. Sifting through the ashes for memorabilia and important remains, their mission is to bring communities hope and lower risk of further fire damage Veteran-volunteer from Saint John, New Brunswick, Chris Saulnier, said Team Rubicon has given him purpose after service. "Every time we brought something out that looked like a piece of memorabilia, you could tell the mood was being elevated," said Saulnier. "That homeowner is who we're here for." Hope for Adam's Cove Mayor of Small Point-Adam's Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove Curtis Delaney said he had been asking the province for help with clean up before he was connected with Team Rubicon. "Being from a small town, we don't have the resources large municipalities have," said Delaney. "Any help that we can get is extremely important." Delaney said he is grateful for the hope and comfort Team Rubicon's help will bring to the victims. "I don't think there's any money [that] can replace, you know, what people have lost, especially when it comes to sentimental items and family heirlooms," he said. Heading into the summer months, Delaney says forest fires are still a concern. So, he says the town is trying to be extra vigilant. "We're trying to do what we can to mitigate risks" he said. And, he said there is more work to be done. "People will see a lot of work taking place and hopefully homes starting to be rebuilt as well." Debbie Marnell, a provincial government communications director, told CBC in a statement that the government engaged Team Rubicon to support impacted residents. Marnell says they're still assessing the damage in the area, and that the government remains in close contact with the community. The Department of Municipal Affairs also have the town a $30,000 grant to help with debris clean up, "and is actively working with the town to determine any additional debris clean-up costs associated with Team Rubicon," said Marnell.
CBC
20-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
MHA says province looking at financial help after C.B.N. wildfire
Steve Crocker also weighs in on improving cellular service in the region Media Video | C.B.N fire shows still 'a lot of work to be done' on cell service coverage, says new N.L. tech minister Caption: Steve Crocker is the MHA for the area that saw 12 homes destroyed in a wildfire. Residents of Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove say a scary situation was made even worse because of poor, and in some cases, zero, cell reception. Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. The MHA for Carbonear–Trinity–Bay de Verde says the provincial government is assessing the damage done by a raging wildfire in Conception Bay North last week. Steve Crocker's district includes Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove, where the fire destroyed at least 12 houses and hit about 45 structures in total. Crocker spoke with CBC News on Monday about the government's response to the event. CBC News asked whether the province is planning any financial help for the people affected by the fire. Crocker said some residents may be eligible for the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program, but N.L. is talking about offering help at a provincial level. "That's a conversation we will continue to have through other government departments," he said. In the meantime, Crocker is encouraging people to remove debris from their properties and to keep their grass trimmed during the warmer months to lessen the damage from any possible fires in the future. He said a fire ban in the Conception Bay North region might be helpful, because this year "is going to be very bad." Cellular concerns But Adam's Cove residents like Pauline White have renewed their calls for improved cellular service in the area since the fire. "We had a cell phone that we couldn't use. There was no wi-fi, no cell signal. I couldn't get a hold of any of my family to let them know that we were OK. I couldn't let anybody know about the house," White told CBC News on Friday. On Monday, she said Eastlink customers in her town were told the company will not restore internet until May 29. CBC News has asked Eastlink for a response. The town also woke up without service from Bell on Sunday morning due to fire damage to the company's infrastructure, depleting its already spotty cellular service. Crocker — who is also the minister of industry, energy and technology — said cell service has been a longtime challenge in that region of the province. He said his department works closely with companies like Bell, but more work could be done. "Obviously it is a significant challenge," said Crocker. "And when you see circumstances like [what happened] this past week, it highlights the need." In an email, Sonja Pomeroy — a spokesperson for Premier John Hogan — said "Premier Hogan was regularly briefed on the wildfires and the impacts they were having on communities."
CBC
20-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
'I thought we were going to die': Adam's Cove woman loses childhood home in wildfire
Tina Dale is hoping the provincial government will provide financial help Within minutes of smelling smoke, Tina Dale saw flames scorching the trees outside her childhood home in Adam's Cove. "When we got on the doorstep, it was just like this heat and black everywhere," Dale told CBC while revisiting her property a week after a fire that forced the evacuation of hundreds of people in Conception Bay North. The fire, which started on May 7, destroyed 12 homes and 45 structures. Water bombers worked for hours to put out the fire and save homes. Dale and her parents weren't so lucky to get through the fire without losing their home. Dale, who is living with her parents to help take care of them, was cleaning and doing yard work on the day the fire broke out. By the late afternoon, Dale says she started to smell smoke. She drove around to see what was going on and saw large flames in the distance, and says she then drove back home to get her parents out of the house as quickly as possible. While Dale was getting her parents ready to leave, she says she looked outside the window to see the yard on fire. "Dad left in his slippers… we took nothing," said Dale. Just as she got her parents in the car, "everything turned black," said Dale. "It was just like this heat and black everywhere … when I looked over there, those trees were on fire was big flames coming up behind the garage over here," said Dale while looking at the burnt debris left behind. WATCH | 'I haven't heard from anybody, nobody,' says resident whose home burned to the ground: Media Video | She thought she was going to die in the C.B.N. wildfire. Now, she has no home and wonders what's next Caption: Tina Dale thought she and her parents were going to die when fire, smoke and heat burst onto their doorstep. Theirs was one of 12 homes destroyed during the fires that burned in Adam's Cove. Now, Dale doesn't know what comes next. The CBC's Abby Cole reports. Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. When she got her car to the end of the driveway, Dale says there was so much smoke that she couldn't see. "We drove out a little ways, it was just like we were okay," said Dale. "But there for a minute ... I thought we were going to die." Restoring losses Dale says life has been a whirlwind in the last week and while she is processing what happened, she says she's also trying to gather the essential items they lost, like her parents' walkers. Dale says the costs are adding up, as her parents didn't have their home insured either. When she called telecommunications provider Eastlink, they told her she might be charged for not returning the modem. She's hoping the government will help. Dale says she called her area's MHA, Steve Crocker, and left her name and phone number, "because I'm like, am I supposed to tell somebody that we didn't have insurance and they lost everything they owned in their life?" Dale says she hasn't heard from anyone since. In a statement, government spokesperson Eric Humber says the government can't speak to individual cases. "We recognize that this has been a challenging time for all those impacted by the devastation of the wildfire in the Adam's Cove area," he wrote in an email to CBC News. "The provincial government remains in close contact with the community through various government departments as recovery efforts continue." Humber says support is available for clean up and removal of hazards and the water resources division is also sampling the public water wells, and that private water wells will be tested for contamination. As of May 16, a non-consumption order remains in place and he says the town has drinking water available for residents. "The Emergency Services Division continues to support the town and monitor the recovery process," wrote Humber. Humber's statement did not mention any financial support for those who lost their homes in the fire, but Crocker previously told CBC that some residents may be eligible for the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program, and that the province is in talks about providing help at a provincial level. Photogallery | Images of forest fire damage around Tina Dale's childhood home in Adam's Cove Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Dale says people have been coming with items and new clothes to help her family, and that the generosity has been overwhelming. "Bogarts even replaced my watch," she said. "People have been so kind. So there's a lot of goodness." Dale's daughter, Emily Dale, also started a GoFundMe campaign which has raised over $6,000 dollars. Dale is grateful for the help, but says it won't replace everything. "Dad is just devastated, right. And he wants to come back here," said Dale. "They only get old age pension. So I mean, he doesn't have any money to put up a new place."
CBC
12-05-2025
- General
- CBC
C.B.N. area MHA says government is looking at financial assistance after wildfire
The MHA for Carbonear–Trinity–Bay de Verde says the provincial government is currently assessing the damage left behind after a wildfire in Conception Bay North last week. Steve Crocker's district includes Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove. At least 12 houses were destroyed and about 45 structures impacted. Crocker spoke with CBC News on Monday about the government's response to the event. CBC News asked if the province plans to assist those affected by the fire with financial help. Crocker said some residents may be eligible for the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program, but added that the province is in talks. "That's a conversation we will continue to have through other government departments," he said. In the meantime, Crocker is encouraging people to remove debris from their properties and to keep their grass trimmed during the warmer months to lessen the damage from any possible fires in the future. He said a fire ban in the Conception Bay North region might be helpful, because this year "is going to be very bad." Cellular concerns But Adam's Cove residents like Pauline White have renewed their calls for improved cellular service in the area since the fire. "We had a cell phone that we couldn't use. There was no wi-fi, no cell signal. I couldn't get a hold of any of my family to let them know that we were OK. I couldn't let anybody know about the house," White told CBC News on Friday. On Monday, she said that Eastlink customers in her town were told that the company will not restore internet until May 29. CBC News has asked Eastlink for a response. The town also woke up without service from Bell on Sunday morning due to fire damage to the company's infrastructure, depleting its already spotty cellular service. Crocker — who is also the minister of industry, energy and technology — said cell service has been a longtime challenge in that region of the province. He said his department works closely with companies like Bell, but more work could be done. "Obviously it is a significant challenge," said Crocker. "And when you see circumstances like [what happened] this past week, it highlights the need."
