A resident near Lethbridge says two water bombers were seen working on the blaze, and there is a lot of smoke in the community. (Submitted by Jessica ONeill)
Residents of parts of the local service district of Lethbridge, N.L. can return to their homes Monday afternoon, but a wildfire that started in a bark pile and spread to the adjacent forest remains active.
The evacuation zone included the areas of Oldford’s Hill to Southwest Bridge and Bayside Drive and Forest Drive, where the Sexton Lumber saw mill is located.
An evacuation alert remains in effect, according to local service district clerk Annie Harris.
Speaking with CBC Radio Monday, Sexton Lumber Owner Kevin Sexton said the fire is not human caused — but rather by a chemical reaction and spontaneous combustion.
“Right now, the whole bark pile is completely on fire. Because where it’s been so dry, the top layer of the pile is just like kindling,” he told CBC Radio’s On The Go.
“So yesterday with the wind, it went across the whole pile. And in the matter of an hour, we had 100,000 tonnes of bark on fire.”Â
Sexton said fires of this nature aren’t uncommon for bark piles, but he noted dry and windy conditions in the area led to the fire spreading fast.
He said there was no indication of fire when he saw the pile at noon on Sunday and it was ablaze just 45 minutes later.
Heat generated by bacteria inside the wood pile can often create self-sustaining fire, which Sexton said can ignite once the fire is exposed to oxygen.
Sexton called it a “stubborn fire” that is resistant to water being dumped on it. Instead, it has to be dug up and watered down. However, they can’t get equipment near the fire.
“[I’m] not sure what the outcome is going to be right yet. But, anyway, we have it contained,” Sexton said.
A firebreak is being built around the fire to limit further spread.
Harris said in a Facebook post the fire poses a low risk to Lethbridge, and Sexton said the mill is currently safe barring a change in wind direction.
The fire is about one hectare in size, according to a Facebook post from the province’s Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture. The department said the fire didn’t grow overnight and two water bombers, a bucketing helicopter and ground crews are continuing to action hot spots.
Kayla Dillon and her four children were among evacuees looking forward to getting back home.
“The kids are a little bit antsy… They’re looking forward to having their own home things,” Dillon said shortly after the evacuation order was lifted.
“It’ll be nice to get back into [the] comfort of our own home.”
WATCH | Residents watch flames, fire crews on Sunday night in Lethbridge:Â 
Firefighters, water bombers working in Lethbridge to keep blaze contained
Fire crews worked into Sunday evening to halt the spread of a fire near the community of Lethbridge. It was a tense night for residents, many of whom had to evacuate their homes and could watch the flames from a distance. Provincial fire duty officer Wes Morgan provided an update on Monday morning.
A reception centre had opened at Anthony Paddon Elementary in Musgravetown to help evacuated residents. However, on Monday afternoon the provincial government said the centre is now located at the Salvation Army Citadel at 1 Islandview Drive.
Impacted residents need to register with the Canadian Red Cross on-site or by calling 1-800-863-6582.
Three of the four schools in the area closed Monday.
Route 233 remains impassable in both directions to all traffic.
“It’s not seeing the same movement that we were in the latter hours yesterday afternoon,” provincial fire duty officer Wes Morgan said Monday morning.
“The ground is so dry underneath, lots of times that [moisture]Â doesn’t get the chance to penetrate deep into the ground, so again it dries off and you’re back into where fires can occur,” he said.
Provincewide fire ban to continue until at least Friday
Meanwhile, the Newfoundland and Labrador government announced Monday that a provincewide fire ban will continue until at least Friday.
The ban has been in place since Aug. 5 due to extremely dry conditions and multiple wildfires.
The ban prohibits fires, including permits to burn grass, brush or other materials. It also requires off-road vehicles to be equipped with a screen or baffling device to prevent sparks from escaping, and requires operators to travel with a fire extinguisher.
Violating the ban can result in fines starting at $50,000. Not paying that fine can ultimately lead to possible imprisonment.
The ban will be reassessed on Friday.
Morgan said most of the province’s wildfires were caused by human activity this year.
“In 2025, we’ve had 230 fires, 220 of these were human-caused fires,” he said.
The forest fire season in Newfoundland and Labrador is in effect until Sept. 30.
“Fires can still occur right on through the fire season and even past the fire season,” Morgan said.
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