2022 wildfire season: forest fires in Newfoundland (August 8th)

Direct link to August 8th video on YouTube from CTV News

I wrote about forest fires in Newfoundland Canada on July 25th and again on July 27th. I admit that I had not followed up on these fires until this morning when my friends at the NJFFS Section B10 website shared the above video on the main page of their website (video links updated daily). Of the six forest fires that were still burning on July 27th, see my July 27th for more information, one is under control and two continue to be listed as out of control on August 8th. The Triton Brook/Deer Pond (Fire #137) has burned an estimated 24 ha (or 39 acres) and is listed as being under control and being monitored. 

Two fires, both of which started on July 24th continue to burn out of control:    

• The Bay d'Espoir Highway Fire (Fire #139) has burned 5,273 ha (13,030 acres)
• The Paradise Lake Fire (Fire #136) has burned 6,614 ha (16,344 acres)

See the two images below from the NL Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture for more information on these fires. 

Obtained on August 8, 2022 from https://www.gov.nl.ca/ffa/files/forestry-forest-fires-pdf-active-fires.pdf

Obtained on August 8, 2022 from https://www.gov.nl.ca/ffa/files/forestry-forest-fires-pdf-active-fires.pdf

The Paradise Lake and Bay d'Espoir Fires are located in close proximity to each other, but as of August 8 they have not merged into one fire. An August 4 tweet from the Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Department includes an overview map.

1/3: Forest fires at Paradise Lake & the Bay d’Espoir Hwy (Rte 360) have been fueled by high winds & drought-like conditions. The fire is unpredictable; currently, the head of the fire is spreading northeast towards Mount Peyton, bringing significant smoke. #GovNL #nltraffic #nlwx pic.twitter.com/5dVMOnhNkw

— Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture NL (@FFA_GovNL) August 4, 2022

I know that Bay d'Espoir Highway was open on July 26th as my friends were able to leave by that Highway to continue with their vacation and then return home. I believe that the Bay d'Espoir highway (360) linking remote communities to the Trans Canada Highway has been closed since this past weekend. Emergency helicopter transportation is available. A state of emergency exists for a portion of central Newfoundland with residents being asked to be ready to evacuate.

There is a good report on these fires from the CBC (August 8, late morning) with a five minute video report where you will hear Newfoundland and Labrador's Forest Protection Supervisor, Jeff Motty, report on the fire. I will embed the video below (available from CBC) but I do  not always know how long media outlets maintain their embed, hopefully the article will have the video if the embed code does not work. Of note Motty says that there may be rain showers in the forecast for Tuesday. He also reports that eight water bombers and two bird dog aircraft are available to work these fires.