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CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
‘Do not come here' warns N.L. official as crews battle wildfire
A Newfoundland flag flies in the wind in Rocky Harbour, N.L., on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Houses in the central Newfoundland and Labrador town of Badger are safe Thursday morning, even as a wildfire burns just a few hundred metres away from the community. Badger's town council wrote in an update Thursday morning there was 'no risk to any properties' inside the community. Residents of the community had evacuated Wednesday night following a precautionary order from Premier John Hogan. The town council wrote that members of the community fire department, as well as the RCMP, are patrolling the community throughout the day. 'If you do not have to be near the town of Badger, do not come here,' Chris Tibbs, the MHA who represents the area and neighbouring communities in Newfoundland and Labrador's House of Assembly, told his constituents in a Facebook video just after noon on Thursday. 'We have a heavy RCMP presence on the highway, and it's essential personnel only at this time.' 'Do not hamper the operations today by coming here if you do not need to.' Lisa Dempster, the province's forestry minister, told constituents in an update on Facebook Thursday morning that although the fire didn't grow overnight, officials still needed to see more positive news throughout the day before they could consider lifting the evacuation order. 'No perimeter growth overnight. That's wonderful news, but the fire is still very hot, and they still have a lot of work to do today,' she wrote. Tibbs, who is helping the town's fire department, said there was some improvement in the weather Thursday. After ordering Wednesday's evacuation, Premier John Hogan travelled to the Joe Byrne Arena in Grand Falls-Windsor, the registration point for Badger evacuees, and spoke with some of the red cross personnel. 'In an emergency you can be sure Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are there to help in any way they can,' he wrote on Facebook. 'The response in Grand Falls-Windsor and surrounding towns to assist evacuees was incredible and I thank them for their quick action and continued support of their neighbours.' Officials believe the fire broke out Tuesday evening after a lightning strike. It's grown to 650 hectares in size.
CBC
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
A 'sigh of relief' as conditions for battling Churchill Falls fire improves, says minister
A fire east of Churchill Falls continues to burn Friday morning, but the provincial government says weather is improving and should help the effort to fight it. As of Friday afternoon, the Newfoundland and Labrador active wildfire dashboard shows the fire located near Churchill Falls is estimated to be roughly 170 hectares — the same size recorded on Thursday. The latest dashboard update indicates the fire is "being held" as the response continues. Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Minister Lisa Dempster said firefighting crews will get some help from the weather. "We have good news this morning on the fire. I know that residents in the area, and our crews that are on the ground and in other resources, are breathing a sigh of relief," she told CBC Radio's Labrador Morning. Her morning report on the fire said the area received overnight precipitation and it's a clear morning. She said the forecast for the next few days is favourable with low temperatures and light wind. "Everything that we need to try to get, you know, get all of this under control," said Dempster. 'Things are really dry' Happy Valley-Goose Bay Mayor George Andrews said he saw the flames near Churchill Falls and saw how quickly it could spread. He said if the wind had blown the other way, it would have been a more serious situation for the town. "The flames at times were almost as high as the steel transmission line poles that are there," he said. "It was very serious and kind of scary because it brought back what had happened last summer and what has happened across Labrador over many years." He said his community is being proactive about bringing in mitigation measures, such as implementing a fire ban. WATCH | Terry Roberts reports live from Churchill Falls: Rain bringing relief to Churchill Falls firefighting efforts 19 days ago Duration 3:06 A wildfire has been burning near Churchill Falls since Wednesday, but favourable weather conditions and the firefighting effort have led to positive developments. The CBC's Terry Roberts shared an update on Friday morning. "Things are really dry," he said. He added there wasn't a lot of snow in the region during the winter and not a lot of moisture in the woods, and people are still "hyper-sensitive" over last summer's wildfires. "We prepare as best we can," said Andrews. Andrews said the town is as ready as it can be for an emergency situation and he hopes the weather will co-operate when it comes to putting out the fires. While he doesn't want people to be alarmed, they've been told to prepare go-bags with their essential items, and to be ready to leave with their vehicles gassed. People can get information on the town's website and Facebook page, he said. Air quality The provincial fire rating hazard map ranks many parts of the province as at moderate to high risk for wildfires. The Churchill Falls area remains at a very high risk, while the Labrador City region is in the yellow, meaning high risk. The region just east of Happy Valley-Goose Bay sits at extreme. Environment Canada has special air quality statement in effect for the Churchill Falls vicinity. "Smoke conditions may vary locally as wind and fire behaviour changes," it states. A period of wet weather is expected to start on Saturday and continue for several days, which could help fire fighting efforts. Second fire burning A second fire also ignited in western Labrador on Thursday in the area of Faden Siding by the Menihek Lakes, approximately 150 kilometres north of Labrador City. As of Friday morning, the provincial wildfire map calculates its area at an estimated 1,875 hectares. Craig Coady, the forestry department's wildfire program director, said they are currently monitoring the fire. "The good thing about the location of that fire, at the moment right now, is that there aren't any values at risk," Coady told CBC News on Thursday evening. "So there isn't any significant infrastructure — homes, cabins, you know, those types of things — in that area. So right now we're not too concerned with that fire." There is a fire burning on Newfoundland's west coast but it is under control. Need resources Wabush Mayor Ron Barron said he's worried about a lack of fire fighting resources in the region, something he's seen dwindle over the years. "I have to stress as a community leader, in the past we've had resources here on the ground. You know, just the local forestry department had, I think, five full-time people," he told CBC Radio's Labrador Morning on Thursday. He said it's now down to two people in the area. Barron said a water bomber was stationed at the Wabush airport for 30 years, which is no longer the case. Last year Wabush was on stand-by when Labrador City was evacuated due to wildfires. "Fires are unpredictable. We've seen that here in 2013. We've seen it again here in 2024," said Barron. "The only thing that puts fires out is boots on the ground and resources in the air to help combat those fires. You can have all the signs you want but Mother Nature don't comply with that, sometimes, and she does her own thing." Since Thursday the town has been under a boil water advisory.
CBC
30-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Out of control fire still burning near Churchill Falls
An out of control wildfire east of Churchill Falls continues to burn. As of Friday morning, the Newfoundland and Labrador active wildfire dashboard shows the fire located near Churchill Falls is estimated to be roughly 170 hectares — the same size recorded on Thursday. The provincial fire rating hazard map ranks many parts of the province as at high, very high and extreme risk for wildfires. Environment Canada forecasts rain over the course of Friday and the following several days. In a statement on Thursday afternoon, Forestry Minister Lisa Dempster said two fires near Churchill Fires merged into one, which is actively burning one kilometre east of Churchill Falls on the north side of the Trans-Labrador Highway. Forestry officials say winds are blowing the fire away from the community, leaving a smouldering ground fire which allows crews to get water on hot spots further into the woods. Second fire burning A second fire also ignited in western Labrador on Thursday in the area of Faden Siding by the Menihek Lakes. As of Friday morning, the provincial wildfire map calculates its area at an estimated 1,875 hectares. Craig Coady, the forestry department's wildfire program director, said they are currently monitoring the fire. "The good thing about the location of that fire, at the moment right now, is that there aren't any values at risk," Coady told CBC News on Thursday evening. "So there isn't any significant infrastructure — homes, cabins, you know, those types of things — in that area. So right now we're not too concerned with that fire." There is a fire burning on Newfoundland's west coast but it is under control. Need resources Wabush Mayor Ron Barron said he's worried about a lack of fire fighting resources in the region, something he's seen dwindle over the years. "I have to stress as a community leader, in the past we've had resources here on the ground. You know, just the local forestry department had, I think, five full-time people," he told CBC Radio's Labrador Morning on Thursday. He said it's now down to two people in the area. Barron said a water bomber was stationed at the Wabush airport for 30 years, which is no longer the case. Last year Wabush was on stand-by when Labrador City was evacuated due to wildfires. "Fires are unpredictable. We've seen that here in 2013. We've seen it again here in 2024," said Barron. "The only thing that puts fires out is boots on the ground and resources in the air to help combat those fires. You can have all the signs you want but Mother Nature don't comply with that, sometimes, and she does her own thing." Since Thursday the town has been under a boil water advisory.
CBC
28-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Most of Labrador under high to extreme risk of wildfires
Most of Labrador is under a high to extreme risk of wildfires, according to the province's fire hazard map on Wednesday. Jordan Brown, the NDP MHA for Labrador West, says residents in his area aren't surprised to see their region under an extreme warning on the map. "The whole winter, we commented on how little snow we're getting," Brown said in an interview Wednesday. Environment Canada data shows that only 257.1 centimetres of snow has fallen in Labrador throughout the 2024-25 season, compared to about 388 centimetres last year. Approximately 412.2 centimetres fell in Labrador during 2020-21. The data indicates a trend of diminishing snowpack in the area. Snowpack is a compressed accumulation of snow that melts over time — sometimes months after the last snowfall — moistening the ground underneath it and providing water to vegetation when the weather is typically dry. The drier the ground is, the higher the risk of it burning. Brown said Forestry Minister Lisa Dempster called him shortly after the interview and informed him that a water bomber will be in Labrador West for the next three days. "It doesn't take much to set a fire in the forest at this time of year," he said. He's urging residents to "learn from last year" by being cautious and preparing to evacuate if the time comes. Brown nearly lost his own home in the fires last summer. "I'm like anybody who should be prepared," he said. "We're completely surrounded by forest." Western Canada, too, is feeling the force of this fire season. More than 4,000 Saskatchewan residents evacuated their homes due to wildfires this week. Several communities in Manitoba have declared states of emergency or have evacuated. Labrador City Deputy Mayor Mitchell Marsh says his community feels more prepared to deal with fires this year than they were last year. This time, Marsh said, there is a complete evacuation plan expected to be in place by mid-June. "We all know last year was a little hectic," Marsh told CBC News. "I still am very proud of how we did, but five hours of hecticness, we can definitely control that a little better." The deputy mayor said the western portion of Labrador is more vulnerable when the ground is "yellow and crunchy," so he's hoping for some rain and green vegetation before a fire can break out. Like other officials, Marsh is urging residents to be proactive. There is a complete fire ban active in Labrador City, but Marsh also says it's important to be mindful of heat coming from ATVs and other vehicles, and to be careful when in the woods. On the island, Justice and Public Safety Minister John Haggie attended an event at the Gander Fire and Rescue Training Grounds Wednesday morning. He says education is an essential part of preparing for potential wildfires, and that firefighters are prepared. The minister said the province has the resources to handle multiple significant fires simultaneously. "I think there is a real desperate need for people to realize just how risky it can be to have an uncontained fire in the province anywhere at the moment," Haggie said.
CBC
02-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Minister 'extremely frustrated' over PUB rejection of diesel generating station in southern Labrador
Labrador Affairs Minister Lisa Dempster is voicing her frustrations after the province's Public Utilities Board rejected a proposed diesel power generating station in southern Labrador — saying the provincial government might need to intervene. On Monday the PUB rejected an application made by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro to build a $110.9 million regional diesel generating station and interconnection in southern Labrador. "I am so, quite frankly, fed up. Out of patience," Dempster told CBC Radio's Labrador Morning on Wednesday. She says the rejected plan hits close to home. Dempster lived near Charlottetown's diesel-powered generating plant, which burned down in 2019. The towns in the area now rely on mobile generation. "I cannot believe that instead of opening up a new plant, giving residents reliable power, that [Monday] we came to a full stop again. I'm extremely frustrated," Dempster said. The proposed plant, which would have operated in Port Hope Simpson, would power and interconnect six communities in the region. It also would have replaced several existing small diesel plants. Dempster said N.L. Hydro and the PUB need to get to a table to talk and get beyond the impasse. She says she's also frustrated that, more than a year ago, N.L. Hydro submitted thousands of pages of documents for the PUB to review on the proposed generating station, but the rejection only just now happened. Green energy The PUB's decision noted it had a lot more commentary from the public than usual, and that people wanted environmentally responsible solutions. Dempster understands where those concerns are coming from. She was recently named the minister of Environment and Climate Change during a cabinet shuffle over the summer. Still, she said, the region needs a reliable source of power, pointing to the area's volunteer firefighters who feel the pressure when power outages happen. She says outages occur four times more than on the Avalon Peninsula. "I believe we've got to look to get reliable power back in a community that's been on mobile units, a temporary fix, for almost six years," she said. In the meantime, Dempster says she has spoken with N.L. Hydro president Jennifer Williams, but a meeting she requested with the PUB was rejected. "We cannot continue to be at this impasse for an indefinite period of time," she said. NunatuKavut 'pleased' But Todd Russell, president of the NunatuKavut community council, wrote in a statement on Wednesday that he welcomes the PUB's decision, pointing to a section that says N.L. Hydro should satisfy its duty to consult with the NCC. "We are pleased that the PUB recognizes N.L. Hydro's responsibilities stemming from Canada's Constitution and as set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples," wrote Russell. The NCC claims to represent about 6,000 self-identifying Inuit in southern Labrador, including Dempster. The NCC isn't recognized as Inuit by any other federally recognized, rights-holding Inuit collective, including the Nunatsiavut government in northern Labrador and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami — the national organization representing Inuit across Canada — who both say the group is a settler organization.
