The province says two water bombers, a helicopter and crews were sent to fight the wildfire burning near Kingston on Sunday. (Submitted by Ryan Pitts)
Residents in several communities in Conception Bay North, N.L. are being told to prepare to evacuate as a wildfire burning in the area has grown six times in size in recent hours.
“Water bombers, helicopters and ground crews are actioning the fire with support from volunteer fire departments. Officials are watching the fire behaviour very closely.
“The approximate size of the wildfire is currently 150 hectares,” said the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture in a social media post issued around 10 a.m. NT on Monday.
The department is asking residents to pay attention to government channels for updates.Â
Around midnight, the provincial government issued an evacuation alert, asking the communities from Kingston to Adam’s Cove and Broad Cove to be ready to evacuate if the call was made.
“All residents are advised to make preparations for possible evacuation in case the fire spreads towards the town and evacuation is required on short notice,” the alert advised.
According to the post, on Sunday evening two water bombers, a helicopter and crews responded to the fire burning near Kingston, and estimated the fire was approximately 25 hectares in size at the time.
The province added suppression efforts would resume Monday morning.
On the Facebook page for the town of Small Point-Adam’s Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove, residents were also urged to be ready to flee and keep the roads clear so emergency crews in the area could travel efficiently.
As of Monday morning, the Conception Bay North area is considered at a extreme risk of fire. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)
According to the provincial wildfire map, the out-of-control fire broke out on Sunday.
The province also lists the area on its fire hazard map as having an extreme risk of fire.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is also asking drivers to only travel along Route 70 near Kingston if necessary, in order to allow emergency responders to do their work.
Meteorologist Robert Grove told CBC Radio’s The St. John’s Morning Show there are “gusty” southwest winds and conditions will be dry along the coast, and that’s “not ideal” for firefighting.
“But the winds should taper off and switch directions tonight, so hopefully that will be a little bit of help,” said Grove.
Recent wildfires in the province have put the Conception Bay North community on edge in recent months.
A wildfire in May ravaged the community of Adam’s Cove, forcing residents to evacuate and destroying 12 homes and 45 other structures.
‘On edge’
Georgia Slade, who works at the Small Point General Store, said she found out about the evacuation alert around 1 a.m. and she was already awake because her father, a firefighter, was helping fight the Kingston fire.
Her first reaction to the alert was to grab important documents, like her passport, as well as things that have personal significance.
“At this point we all kind of know what’s important to bring and what’s not important to bring. And everyone’s just kind of on edge now, at this point,” she told CBC News.
If an evacuation order is issued for the area, Slade said she’ll be heading “anywhere that’s out of this community.”
People are already dropping by the general store to get gas for their vehicles so they can be ready to leave, she added.
“Everyone has a little bit of panic in them but at the same time we’re like, ‘OK, if we freak out it’s just going to make matters worse.’ Everyone just does what they can,” said Slade.
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