Mother Nature will bless Labrador West with some water today to help in the fight against a forest fire threatening the mining town.
The fire began to escalate rapidly on Friday, moving just 4 to 6 km outside Lab City. An evacuation order was quickly put into effect, with residents in nearby Wabush also told to be on the ready to flee the area. In an update provided yesterday, Premier Andrew Furey told reporters the fire had not spread thanks to favourable weather conditions.
Meteorologist Justin Boudreau, speaking on Your VOCM Mornings, said wind direction from the south-southwest today should help but they will be less favourable tonight from the west. He says thundershowers are possible and they can dump quite a bit of rain in a short time but also bring lightning.
“We’re looking at 15 to 20 mm by the time it’s done but amounts could be even higher locally in thundershowers.”
(Photo courtesy Nathalie LeClair)
The provincial government is expected to share more details today on a financial package for those evacuated due to the forest fire.
Government is now ironing out the details. Furey says it will be similar to the compensation package offered to those hit hardest by Hurricane Fiona in 2022. He says they learned some things from the fund distribution process during that time and the hope is that things will move quicker this time around.
The health authority is also planning to open up an ambulatory care clinic in Wabush today as the hospital in Lab City remains closed.
The temporary clinic will be set up for those with non-urgent medical needs and will be by appointment only through 811. Government is working on the exact location.
A ban on outdoor fires is still in place across Newfoundland and Labrador.
