Latest news with #MarkLawlor
CBC
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Rainfall helps crews battle Newfoundland wildfires, but evacuation orders remain in effect
Crews are still fighting two wildfires burning in Newfoundland, but recent rainfall continues to help efforts to extinguish them, according to the province's fire duty officer. The active wildfires are the Chance Harbour fire in eastern Newfoundland and the Ragged Harbour fire burning northeast of Gander. That blaze forced nearby Musgrave Harbour residents to evacuate over the weekend. A third wildfire is also burning in Labrador. Mark Lawlor said the Chance Harbour fire, located on the Bonavista Peninsula, has burned deep into the ground, which is making fighting it a challenge. "The firefighters have to get in and dig those out and put water on them to put them out. So that creates more work," he told CBC Friday morning. Lawlor said they also haven't gotten the needed substantial rainfall to soak the ground thoroughly. Recent rainfall of 30 millimetres has helped crews get on the ground, but hasn't put out all the hotspots. Lawlor says it's still unclear how much damage the fire has caused to the area so far. The wildfire hasn't grown in several days, however, with its perimeter remaining stable. According to the provincial wildfire dashboard, the fire is 1,820 hectares in size. He said crews are still in the area working on the fire. "We had firefighters working the southern boundary of that fire on the edge towards Winter Brook and Jamestown, and they made good progress. And we had crews on the eastern side of that fire putting out hot spots," he said. Lawlor said the Ragged Harbour fire, which is burning near Musgrave Harbour, is still out of control, adding on there was a lot of smoke and some open flames on Thursday. "Nothing serious, nothing to cause great alarm, but there was fire there," he said. It has also stayed at 1,660 hectares and it hasn't gotten closer to the community. He said crews are fighting the fire's northern side, which is the area closest to Musgrave Harbour, to get at hotspots there. No timeline for return Lawlor couldn't yet offer a timeline for when people might be able to return to their residences in Chance Harbour or Musgrave Harbour to check for damage to their properties. "We have to ensure that it's safe for people to go back," said Lawlor, "We need to have the comfort level that … the danger level is eliminated." He added the weekend's forecast is looking good for firefighting efforts. "If the forecast holds, we shouldn't see much fire activity on either of those fires." He said the Winokapu fire in Labrador, which is about 80 kilometres away from Churchill Falls, is also burning out of control. "We haven't seen much activity with that fire lately, and our staff are going to check on that one today," Lawlor said.
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
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
CBC
16-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Communities surrounding out of control wildfire near Chance Harbour told to be ready to flee
Residents of Jamestown and Winter Brook on Newfoundland's Bonavista Peninsula are being asked to be prepared to evacuate quickly as a wildfire continues to burn nearby. Chance Harbour is receiving the most attention of the seven fires burning in the province as all others are either under control or being held, said Provincial fire duty officer Mark Lawlor. He said there's been no change in size of the 1,200-hectare fire as of Wednesday but weather conditions can rapidly change. "The predictions we have are that the fire shouldn't reach those two communities [Jamestown and Winter Brook on Wednesday]," he told CBC News. "If the temperature gets higher, the relative humidity gets lower, and the wind speed increases significantly, that prediction could fail and we could see the fire moving faster than we predicted." A statement from the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture sent Tuesday night said "forecasted north-northwest winds have the potential for heavy smoke and fire growth" toward communities. That forecast is still valid as of Wednesday morning, said Lawlor, although the flames sit 6 kilometres away from residential areas. 'A helpless feeling' Courtney Russell is one of the people playing the waiting game in Winter Brook. She said there was something eerie about looking out her window Wednesday morning, watching the haze drift through the air. "All the smoke is kind of creeping back into our bay," said Russell. Russell and her family have their essentials packed away in a car in case they need to leave at a moment's notice but said waiting for the call to leave is gut wrenching. "My heart goes out to the crowd out in Pudding Cove … There's been so many cabins lost already and there's cabins that are still at risk of being burned now," said Russell. "It's a devastating feeling. It's a helpless feeling. I would not wish this on anybody," she added. The tight knit community is collectively holding its breath, and according to Russell they are putting a lot of faith in the water bombers and the firefighters steadily suppressing the flames. Meanwhile in Labrador, Lawlor said crews have a "good handle" on the fires near Cartwright and Winokapu. While the Winokapu fire — 15 kilometres south of the Trans Labrador Highway on the North side of the Churchill River — is technically considered to be out of control, it's not considered a threat but a smouldering ground fire. Lawlor said a water bomber and helicopters are stationed in Happy Valley-Goose Bay if needed, but he feels there are adequate resources in Labrador at the moment.
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Wildfire on Newfoundland's Bonavista Peninsula destroys unknown number of cabins
Newfoundland & Labrador's provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday, July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld CHANCE HARBOUR — Newfoundland and Labrador's forest fire duty officer says a wildfire on the Bonavista Peninsula has destroyed an unknown number of cabins in the area. Mark Lawlor says the fire began Monday in a wooded area near Jamestown, N.L., and is estimated to be about 12.5 square kilometres in size. Lawlor says there was no evacuation order, but adds that emergency officials have asked cabin owners to leave and stay away. Lawlor says the nearby village of Jamestown is not currently in danger, because the fire is moving northeast away from the community. While the fire remains out of control, Lawlor says high humidity levels are slowing its growth. The fire duty officer says firefighters are attacking the blaze with help from helicopters and an air tanker dumping water. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025 The Canadian Press
