Firefighters are still battling a wildfire near Port Hope Simpson in southeastern Labrador. According to Port Hope Simpson Coun. Sarah Williams, crews worked through the night to contain the fire, which came within 300 meters of a residential area. The fire began on Wednesday, leading to a state of emergency being declared.
The active wildfire dashboard for Newfoundland and Labrador reported the fire covering two hectares as of 4:30 a.m. Thursday. While there hasn’t been a widespread evacuation order, residents of Country Road were evacuated on Wednesday night as a precaution.
A helicopter was deployed until 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday to combat the fire, and a water bomber from Happy Valley-Goose Bay will continue firefighting efforts on Thursday. Another water bomber from Gander is on standby. Additional support came from fire crews in Charlottetown and Mary’s Harbour.
Charlottetown fire chief Boyce Turnbull mentioned that weather conditions, including warmer temperatures and southwest winds, are not favorable. However, he expressed confidence in the ongoing response efforts. Emergency shelters are available in Mary’s Harbour and St. Lewis, with some residents already leaving the area.
Williams highlighted the importance of community safety and mentioned that they are closely monitoring the situation. The hope is to bring the fire under control before the day gets too hot. As of now, no one has sought refuge in the emergency shelters.
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