An optional evacuation plan has been finalized for residents of Grand Falls-Windsor as forest fires in central Newfoundland continue to burn out of control. The greatest fear now according to officials, is that two large fires will merge into one and every effort is being made to prevent that from happening.
Grand Falls-Windsor Mayor Barry Manuel says in the town is in regular contact with provincial and federal officials as well as nearby municipalities including Bishop’s Falls and Botwood where States of Emergency are now in place.
Grand Falls-Windsor is offering residents who are concerned about poor air quality caused by the fires, and who would like to leave town, the option to leave.
A bus will depart for the Hodder Memorial Centre in Deer Lake—where the provincial govnerment evactation centre is set up—at 11:00 this morning. Residents will be accommodated there until it is safe to return to Grand Falls-Windsor. Two pick-up points have been set up: one at the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium, and the other at the Windsor Stadium. People are asked to arrive by 10:00 a.m.
While none of the communities in central are currently in jeopardy from the flames, the issue says Manuel is smoke which can cause serious breathing issues. Communities as far away as Lewisporte and Twillingate have been experiencing the haze and smell of smoke from the fires.
He says they want residents to be on alert as weather and wind make the fire’s progress less predictable.
Waterbombers from neighbouring Quebec have arrived in the province to join in the firefighting efforts in central.
Meanwhile, the Beaver Brook Antimony Mine in Central Newfoundland has joined officials from Nalcor who are creating a fire break along the Nalcor transmission line route. The company has “allocated every possible resource” to the effort, starting from the Nor-west Gander River Road location, and working toward Cooper’s Brook in the direction of Grand Falls-Windsor.
The company is commending the work of employee Brad Eastman, who volunteered to work throughout the evening Saturday and into the day Sunday to help build the fire break, with special thanks to Matthew Johnson with the local contractor Johnsons for volunteering their assistance in the same effort.
Beaver Brook operations manager Roland Mullett says that work should help protect nearby cabins and the communities of Glenwood, Appleton and Gander should the fire reach that area.
