Firefighters in Port Hope Simpson are currently in their third day of efforts to contain a fire near the southeastern Labrador community. The fire’s size increased significantly on Thursday, expanding from two hectares in the morning to seven hectares by evening. As of Friday morning at 5:30 A.M., the fire remained at seven hectares, according to the active wildfire dashboard of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Port Hope Simpson town councillor, Sarah Williams, expressed that despite the fire’s growth, firefighting crews had a productive day combating the blaze. She mentioned that the fire was primarily back burning on already scorched areas, with the fire break proving effective in its containment efforts.
Overnight, there were some flare-ups, resulting in smoke and burning sections. The Department of Forestry, Agriculture, and Lands reported that water bombers and two bucketing helicopters were deployed to address the fire, which had not yet reached any structures in the town.
A discrepancy arose between municipal and provincial accounts regarding aerial assets. While the provincial report mentioned three water bombers on-site, Williams clarified that only two were operational, citing a mechanical issue with the third bomber. The Department of Forestry, Agriculture, and Lands acknowledged the need for clarification on this matter.
The firefighting efforts will continue with aerial support, additional ground personnel, and the deployment of a structure protection trailer on Friday morning. The fire is currently close to two gas stations and homes on Country Road within the community.
Concerns over the town’s water reservoir being critically low have prompted the town council to advise residents to conserve water. The community remains on high alert and under a state of emergency.
Residents of Country Road were evacuated on Wednesday as a safety precaution. Donnie Sampson, a resident living near the fire break, expressed the community’s collective anxiety and concern over the situation. She emphasized the need for an expanded runway in Port Hope Simpson to facilitate quicker access for water bombers, potentially preventing delays in firefighting efforts.
While acknowledging the runway expansion as beneficial, Williams also highlighted the necessity for firefighting foam availability at airports along the south coast of Labrador. The ongoing situation underscores the critical need for improved emergency response infrastructure in the region.