The mayor of Badger says the situation has improved somewhat, but the wildfire near the community continues to burn.
Mayor Dennis Butt says the region saw some precipitation overnight and the smoke situation had improved by morning.
However, officials are watching the situation closely in case the fire flares up again before they can get it under control.
“I don’t want to give any false reassurance to anyone,” cautions Butt, “but the smoke conditions seem to have improved” and “we’re still treating this as a very critical situation until we’re told otherwise. And I guess through today will tell whether or not the fire is going to reignite or continue to grow similar to what we’ve experienced since yesterday.”
An evacuation order for the residents of Badger was issued yesterday.
Smoke and ash ‘like snow’ says businessowner
A Badger business owner describes the smoke and ash from the encroaching wildfires as like standing in falling snow.
Tracey Noseworthy, the co-owner of the Mug Up Pub and Grub in Badger says the smoke especially was like something she’d never seen.
“The atmosphere outside was very smokey” says Noseworthy. “Just to be outside you smelled like you were standing in front of a campfire. It was like snow was falling, little flurries” she says describing the ash falling on the town.
With the evacuation alert the previous day allowing people time to pack up, Noseworthy says evacuation of the town was very orderly.
“There was not a lot of traffic on the go, most people were packing up…anything of importance to them, and trying to get of the town to find somewhere safe to go and find places to stay the night.”
Premier John Hogan meets with those helping evacuees in Grand Falls-Windsor (via Premier John Hogan)
Most of the residents ended up in Grand Falls-Windsor, awaiting the all-clear from government and forestry officials.
The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services is among the groups on the ground in Grand Falls-Windsor helping those affected by the wildfires in Badger.
A team of 12 volunteers, lead by incident commander Mike Barry, have been offering assistance to those that have been displaced, and preparing meals – with over 75 people being fed thus far.
A divisional incident command team has been activated to support and coordinate the response effort, with additional volunteers on standby.
More precipitation in forecast tonight
The Badger area only saw about 2 mm of precipitation overnight, but temperatures will rise today, causing concern for forestry officials.
Environment Canada meteorologist Angelie Meynard says winds are dying down, but that means temperatures will rise.
Meynard says more encouraging however is more rain in the forecast overnight.
“We’re looking at a high of 25 degrees (today)” says Meynard, “but that should come right down to the low teens overnight.” Meynard says another band of rain will move through the region around midnight tonight. “We’re looking at about 5 mm.”
