A man has been charged with threatening first responders working with the Kingston wildfire in Conception Bay North.

RCMP say the incident occurred 6:30 Monday night during the evacuation of residents.

They say the 62-year-old man, from nearby Blackhead, was arrested without incident, charged with uttering threats, and held in custody in Harbour Grace.

He was released from jail earlier today and is due back in court on October 15th.

RCMP stressed that during an active wildfire it is their responsibility to ensure the safety of residents and first responders, and to ensure adherence to all safety measures.

“In a mandatory evacuation, it is essential that you follow instructions from authorities, emergency responders and ground search and rescue,” they said in a statement. “Follow official evacuation routes, and report to the designated reception centre and register yourself, plus any family members or others who have evacuated with you, even if you plan to stay in an alternate location. This is essential, as it allows officials to confirm that you have safely evacuated.”