The scope of the devastation from the wildfire is coming to light today as media get a close-up look of the situation.
VOCM’s Linda Swain was part of group of reporters who were guided through the area today.
She says the devastation in Adam’s Cove is quite extensive. There’s nothing but rubble left of the schoolhouse, a historic building, for example. You can also see where houses once stood because of the nails on the ground – blown out from the heat.
The loss of the Adam’s Cove schoolhouse is a testament to the extraordinary power of this particular fire.
Meanwhile, the evacuation order has been lifted for the remainder of Conception Bay North. That covers Western Bay, Ochre Pit Cove and the remaining portion of Northern Bay.
The evacuation alert is still in place.
Cabot Academy was completely destroyed in the blaze. (VOCM News)
The Salem Centre in Small Point will remain open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Residents who require transportation back to Western Bay, Ochre Pit Cove and Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay, should call 709-729-0921. Buses will be available starting at 12:00 p.m. The last bus will be leaving at 6:00 p.m. Pets will be required to be in a carrier/crate.
Swain says the remnants of destruction are everywhere in fire-ravaged region, with scorched earth and rubble all around.
The northern limit of the zone is at Northern Bay Sands and the southern limit is just over the tall cliffs at Perry’s Cove, with the fire caming perilously close to burning through that community.
A lot of utility workers are still in the area trying to restore service, and people are beginning the process of putting their lives back together.
(VOCM News)
There are many appliances either sitting by the side of the road or have been dropped off at designated locations.
Swain says the smell coming from those storage units is pungent – not surprising given that there was no power for about three weeks in sweltering heat.
(VOCM News)
