The Department of Forestry says the Bay D’Espoir Highway is now open. Drivers are being asked to excercise patience, to drive slowly and don’t stop.
Updates will continue to be provided as conditions change.
The authorities are telling people not to go to their cabins. This is not the time to divert personnel away from the main task at hand which is fighting the fires and coordinating all the associated logistics.
Some much-needed rain is finally falling on most parts of the island, but the forecast precipitation is nowhere near what is needed to help douse those fires.
The southwest coast, south coast and Avalon Peninsula will see the greatest amounts of precipitation today through to tomorrow morning.
Environment Canada meteorologist Justin Boudreau says the rain and cooler temperatures are helping, however. He says the area involved in the forest fires is expecting approximately 15 mm of rain, with just a couple of mm expected along the Northeast Coast.
(Photo via Atlantic Grocery Distributors.)
Residents of the Coast of Bays have received shipments of much-needed goods that were running row due to the closure of the Baie d’Espoir Highway.
Goods are being brought into the region today by helicopter, while the ferry Sound of Islay that was being sent to the area with fuel is now in drydock with mechanical issues.
Harbour Breton Deputy Mayor Roy Drake says things were at the breaking point with all the staples getting scarce including milk, bread, eggs, meats, vegetables and fruit.
In the meantime, Drake says communities on the Connaigre Peninsula have been helping each other.
He says Harbour Breton needed a tank of chlorine for the water system which they picked up in Hermitage. In the meantime, the priority for today is fuel supply, with rationing likely while they wait on a shipment to arrive by boat.
Please do NOT go to your cabin if it is nearby either the Bay D’Espoir Highway (Rt 360) or Paradise Lake. These are active fire areas. They’re not safe; and it interferes with crews fighting the fire #Govnl #nlwx #nltraffic pic.twitter.com/thsjqaOAfp
— Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture NL (@FFA_GovNL) August 9, 2022
