Weather created an 'extremely aggressive inferno' as crews continue to battle fire near Labrador City | CBC News (2024)

The wildfire near Labrador City is still posing challenges on Saturday asresidents continue to evacuate.

In an update Saturday afternoon, Premier Andrew Furey saidthefire is aboutsix kilometres northwest ofthe communityand about one kilometre from the landfill.

"It was basically deemed fully under control, if not fully out, on Monday and Tuesday this week. Essentially, yesterday morning it started to smoulder a bit and gain some momentum," Fureytold reporters during a virtual news conference in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

"Around mid-day the weather conditions changed with what is the perfect fire condition, if you will, for spread."

The fire had spread from what was 600 hectaresand "fairly controlled" to over 10,000 hectares.

It moved 21 kilometres in just four hours, Furey said.

"Just an extremely aggressive inferno just outside of Labrador City and led to a very quickly and rapidly changing situation for the residents," he said.

Crews are fighting the fire on two fronts on Saturday.Three water bombersfrom Newfoundland and Labrador are fighting it from the east andwater bombers from Quebec fighting it from the west.

Furey said requests for assistance have been made to otherprovinces and the federal government for help in taming the fire.

WATCH | Premier Andrew Furey delivers update on wildfire near Labrador City:

Furey said the forecast is favourable enough to keep residents of nearbyWabush on standby butstill ready to evacuate.

Gasoline supply is an issue as thousands of residents had to fill up on the road to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Furey said government isaware and looking to secure alternative sources.

Fureyalso issued a fire ban for the entire province.

Hospital evacuated

The Labrador West Health Centre in Labrador City fully evacuated patients overnight and emergency services are closed until further notice.

The hospital andwalk-in emergency services will remain closed until it is safe to fully reopen, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services wrotein a news release Saturday morning.

Ambulances remainon standby in case of emergencies.

NLHS media relations manager Mikaela Etchegarytold CBC News patients were transferred to other health-care facilities in the province, with the majority diverting to the Labrador Health Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

WATCH | Labrador City residents met with kindness from neighbours:

Roughly 1,500 people checked in at theE.J. Broomfield Arena in Happy Valley-Goose Bay since the evacuation order was issued. Thousands moreare expected to arrive throughout Saturday.

Meanwhile, residents of Wabush are waiting with their bags packed since getting a possible evacuation notice Friday night.

Mayor Ron Barrontold CBCNewsthe provincialfire service isbringing in more resources to battlethe fire on Saturday morning.

But, he said,thoseresources should have been there much earlier.

"This fire started last week," Barron said. "I think more attention should have been paid to it at that time rather than where it's catching us now."

Barron wants Wabushresidents tostay calm, vigilant and patient.

He said as soon as he learns more information, he will notify residents.

In the meantime, he said, people shouldstay in close communications with friends, family and neighbours in case the town has to evacuate.

Churchill Fallssteps in to help

Lisa Parmiter was at her brewery in Labrador City listening to the news when she heard about the evacuation alert.

She immediatelyclosed the barand dashed home to start packing, she said.

Some of her belongings had already been packed since the previous fire a few weeks ago in Churchill Falls.That was her first stop for gas.

Outside, it was a dark haze, she said. White cars had an amber tint to them.

"It's a pretty lengthy lineup," said Parmiter. " I finally get to the gas station, and this guy starts pumping my gas."

It wasn't a worker — but a volunteer.

Besides the three workers at the gas station, there were seven other people volunteering, helping to speed up the line.

The man told her that when Churchill Falls residents faced a similar evacuation just weeks ago,they received plenty of help — and itwas their turn to give back.

"It's the Labrador way," Parmiter said. "It's who we are. We just take care of each other."

She said it took her 12 hours to reach Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Capacity to shelter thousands

Perry Trimper, LiberalMHA for Lake Melville, and his team are helping to accommodate the people arriving inHappy Valley-Goose Bay.He saysthere is enoughcapacity to shelter over 9,500 people.

"Beds, shelters, meals, all of those types of logistics — we are definitely ready," he told CBC news on Saturday.

So far, 1,400 people registered for accommodations on Friday night and he expects thousands more to come.

Although the team of workers and volunteers in Happy Valley-Goose Bay are organized and calm in the midst of chaos, he saidthere are some challenges.

From gas running low — with reports that the gas station in Churchill Falls has run dry — tomisinformation online about capacity, Trimper assures there is enough in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

However, there is a challenge to shelter people with their pets.

Trimper said the SPCA is full. He's encouraginganyone who can afford to house people and their pets to do so.

"I saw people just a few hours ago crying when they knew that they weren't going to have to be separated from their pets," he said, adding other residents have approached complete strangersoffering to help.

"I'm quite proud to live here."

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