The Latest Information as of 12:00 p.m.
More communities have been ordered to pack their bags and be ready, as there was virtually no growth in any of the three major wildfires in the province yesterday or overnight.
Kingston is at over 9,500 hectares, Martin Lake 2,160 and Paddy’s Pond just over 300 hectares.
There is no word on whether there will be another wildfire news conference today. VOCM News will carry any updates live.
Martin Lake Fire
Lower temperatures and some light rain in central Newfoundland over the while have helped those battling the fire at Martin Lake.
The Bay d’Espoir Highway is open until 4:00 p.m., with traffic moving in one direction at a time.
The government says the highway could close at any time, and is asking the public to limit travel along Route 360 to essential purposes only.
(Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)
Kingston Fire
Crews were grounded through early Saturday morning.
An evacuation alert has been issued for the Local Service District of Freshwater, on the north side of Conception Bay.
Residents are asked to be ready to evacuate on short notice.
There was some reprieve as evening rain helped in Conception Bay North and in Central, allowing crews in both cases to establish firebreaks.
“Both rain and cooler temperatures is a major factor in forest fire fighting. It provides an opportunity to cool those fires and give an opportunity for crews to get on the ground in some areas where fire behavior hasn’t permitted that activity in the past couple days,” said Fire Duty Officer Bryan Oake.
📢 Public Advisory: Update on Wildfires
The Kingston wildfire had no growth overnight.
The Paddy’s Pond wildfire experienced no overnight growth but remains very smoky.
The Martin Lake wildfire did not grow overnight, but the area remains very smoky.
For more information on… pic.twitter.com/lkPSmv7CyX
— Government of Newfoundland & Labrador (@GovNL) August 16, 2025
The Town of Victoria remains on evacuation alert through Saturday.
Oake says with winds blowing southerly yesterday, suppression efforts focused on holding the line ahead of Victoria.
“Certainly, the wind has shifted, but yesterday, given the southerly winds, the crews were able to put in additional fire guards in the southern area,” he told VOCM News.
“Our heavy lift helicopter was in that area, actioning that throughout the day as well, so we’re hopeful that the efforts will pay off here today.”
Winds will blow north at 20 gusting to 40 km/h today.
Paddy’s Pond Fire
The evacuation order for the Paddy’s Pond Industrial Area has been lifted, and Northern Pond Road and Paddy’s Pond Road have reopened.
The order had affected Akita Equipment, surrounding hangars, Cochrane Pond Family Campground, Country Ribbon Chicken Farm, the Sod Farm, and the Forestry Depot.
An evacuation preparedness alert remains in effect for Paddy’s Pond Industrial, Galway, and Southlands as the fire in the area is still active. Residents are asked to remain ready to leave on short notice.
Crews worked overnight to find hot spots on the fire.
Current Evacuation Orders
- Town of Small Point–Adam’s Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove
- Town of Salmon Cove
- Western Bay
- Kingston
- Perry’s Cove
- Ochre Pit Cove
- Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay
Current Evacuation Alerts
- Job’s Cove
- Freshwater
- Southlands and Galway, within the City of St. John’s.
- Town of Paradise: the area on the south side of Topsail Road from the Outer Ring Road exit to CBS boundary.
- Town of Conception Bay South: starting at Paradise Outer Ring Road turn-off, on to Route 60 through to Manuels River Bridge, up Peacekeeper’s Way to the cloverleaf on the Trans-Canada Highway and back to the Paradise Trans-Canada Highway turnoff.
- Town of Victoria.
Current Evacuation Advisory
- Cabin owners in the Martin Lake, Great Rattling Brook, Rushy Pond and Paradise Lake areas off Route 360 (Bay d’Espoir Highway), including all cabins from Rushy Pond to Paradise Lake.
