The states of emergency that were issued for Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop’s Falls, the Connaigre Peninsula and Botwood ended over the weekend and the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture says that is a great relief.

Derrick Bragg says Mother Nature started the fires, and she was the one to help stabilize them, with rain and high humidity in the area keeping the fires in the ground.

There are numerous hot spots that need to be dealt with, says Bragg, but there are no longer any live flames. He says waterbombers are still being used when needed, but two waterbombers and a Birddog aircraft are being returned to Quebec today. He says 20 personnel are moving in from Nova Scotia to assist with work on the ground.

Bragg says although things are looking good, adverse weather conditions could cause the hot spots to flare up. He says the fire won’t be labeled “under control” until they are completely out.

Some forestry resource roads have reopened, but not those closest to the hot spots. Six or seven cabins were destroyed, Bragg says the department has reached out to those cabin owners.

Bragg says, as far as wildlife goes, most larger animals vacated the area when the fire and smoke began. The government will do a proper assessment once the fires are fully extinguished.

He hopes that more rain this week will contain the hot spots, especially near the Paradise Lake area, where they are dealing with hot spots on the North side near some cabins.