Things went from bad to worse in the area of the Bay d’Espoir Highway in central Newfoundland early yesterday afternoon after several days of hot, dry weather. The highway was closed but it has since reopened.
Fire Duty Officer with the Forestry Department Jeff Motty says it’s tough battling mother nature but they safely got all the crews out of the area after the shift in fire intensity.
The smoke plume built significantly, reducing visibility and limiting firefighters’ ability to see what was happening. The wind was a factor also. They’re currently assessing the situation.
(Fire in Carbonear.)
Meanwhile, the Veterans Memorial Highway has reopened as fire crews battled a brush fire in Carbonear last evening which caused some anxious moments because of its proximity to houses and businesses.
Around 5:00 p.m., emergency crews were called to Carbonear where a blaze had broken out near the Dairy Queen and Earle’s Riding Horses at the top of the hill.
The highway was closed for a number of hours as a water bomber had to be called in to extinguish the flames.
The businesses did not receive any damage, but residents were stuck in the area until the fire was extinguished about six hours after it broke out.
Motty says they made progress and will be back at it today.
They laid hoses around 10 per cent of the perimeter.
As the fire was burning in the heart of Carbonear, personnel and equipment were called in from other areas.
