Fire fighting focus is on Chance Harbour as others are contained, says forestry minister

The focus is on Chance Harbour as fire crews continue to battle wildfires across Newfoundland and Labrador.

Forestry Minister Lisa Dempster told CBC on Thursday afternoon that of the province's eight wildfires, seven are contained.

"Everything outside of Chance Harbour from yesterday to today, is essentially out," Dempster said.

This includes fires that posed a threat to the Conception Bay North community of Small Point and the town of Lewisporte in central Newfoundland. 

Dempster said while firefighters continue to monitor hot spots in those two communities, the one near Chance Harbour is receiving the most resources as the fire continues to grow.

"That fire did grow several hundred hectares yesterday but it was mostly out the end of Chance Head. There's been some growth on western and eastern sides near the cabins," she said.

Crews will continue to battle the blaze throughout the weekend. 

Dempster said three water bombers, three helicopters, one bird dog plane and ground crews will be working on the fire.

Dempster said the province installed a sprinkler system in the community of Bench Point which points towards communities near the fire.

She said forestry is currently mapping out the fire's growth but it currently poses no threat to nearby communities. 

'More devastation'

Firefighting efforts continue against a wildfire burning on Newfoundland's Bonavista Peninsula but a resident says people are facing it with a mixture of emotions.

Provincial fire duty officer Wes Morgan said about a dozen firefighters were in Chance Harbour, suppressing the still out of control wildfire there on Thursday. He said the work will continue throughout Friday.

"The fire did not expand a lot, but there was some expansion on the head, which heads toward the saltwater," Morgan told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show.

Morgan said about a dozen firefighters were in Chance Harbour on the Bonavista Peninsula, suppressing the still out of control wildfire there on Thursday and that work will continue throughout Friday.

"The fire did not expand a lot, but there was some expansion on the head, which heads toward the saltwater," Morgan told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show.

Ryan Pitts, who lives nearby, has seen the fire's expansion for himself from his boat. He said he noticed at least three additional cabins that may have burned down overnight.

He added he saw "more devastation" when he ventured out with his boat Friday morning.

As he delivers supplies to community members who are visiting their cabins and scoping out the damage, he said he's seen many "sad people, angry people."

But other people, he said, are determined.

"They're still in fighting mode… They're there fighting with pumps and hoses and they're trying to guide the helicopter to where they see flare-ups on the ground," Pitts said during a phone call with CBC News from the water in Chance Harbour.

Morgan said an update on the fire's size — currently listed as 1,200 hectares — is coming soon.

Wind allowed crews to approach the southern portion of that fire, said Morgan. The perimeter is being maintained on the fire's eastern portion, he said, so nearby communities of Jamestown and Winter Brook are no longer on high alert for a potential evacuation.

Morgan said firefighters are hoping for some humidity and participation, even if it's light, to help firefighting efforts. 

Meanwhile, some resources were diverted to a small fire that broke out in Lewisporte Thursday. 

"You will see some ground crews out there [Friday] morning working with local fire departments," said Morgan. "The fire has been held with quick response from the air support."

According to the province's wildfire dashboard there are eight active fires as of Friday morning.

'A tense time'

In Conception Bay North, some residents are facing a familiar situation.

Morgan said a five-hectare wildfire came close to homes in Small Point on Thursday, but were spared from any damage, although one shed was destroyed.

To the best of Morgan's knowledge, the fire hasn't spread since Thursday night.

Small Point-Broad Cove-Blackhead-Adam's Cove residents are still on edge, with May's devastating fire still fresh in their minds.

"It was a tense time for quite a while until we had a water bomber on scene," said Mayor Curtis Delaney, adding some people left town.

Police are advising residents to only travel through the town if necessary.

Delaney said people are in fear of the fire turning into something like the one that ravaged Adam's Cove only two months ago.

"Eventually if these fires keep up, there's going to end up being loss of life because, as I said, this is becoming a regular occurrence out here," he said.

Crews are on guard against smoke and hot spots on Friday, according to Delaney, and he hopes "people might actually get a little bit of sleep."

On Friday the RCMP announced they are investigating recent brush fires that had happened near Adam's Cove in May.

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