A weekend of hot temperatures in Newfoundland has sparked several new wildfires across the island.
According to provincial fire duty officer Mark Lawlor, eight wildfires are currently burning.
One in Chance Harbour, near Terra Nova National Park, started early Monday afternoon. Lawlor said it quickly became the largest active fire in the province, growing to 500 hectares in a few hours.
“The Badger fire was over 1,000 hectares but that’s just currently being monitored so right now this is our largest active fire,” he said.
“The wind, the warm temperatures, and the low relative humidities are all combining to help. That’s why that fire really moved today. The conditions were perfect for it.”
The fire is currently moving in a northeast direction away from any communities, Lawlor said.
Three air tankers, one helicopter and firefighters are on scene.
Lawlor said some firefighters are getting cabin owners out of the area, as the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture is advising anyone in the Chance Harbour’s Resource Road cabin area to immediately leave.
This follows the provincial government’s decision to issue a provincewide fire ban on Friday. The majority of the island is reaching temperatures in the high 20s and some into the 30s.
Two fires that started in eastern Newfoundland on Sunday are labelled as burning out of control, with the Northwest Brook fire estimated to be 9.2 hectares and the Maccles Lake South fire estimated to be four hectares.
A wildfire burning near Bonavista Bay started on Saturday and is estimated to be one hectare. It’s considered as under control.
In central Newfoundland, two more fires are considered under control, including the largest wildfire active in the province near Pamehac Brook North.
Located near Badger, the Pamehac Brook North fire is estimated to have burned 1,034 hectares. It started on June 17 and prompted the provincial government to issue a temporary evacuation order for residents.
The Bellman’s Pond fire is also under control. It started last Wednesday and is estimated to be just under one hectare.
In western Newfoundland, the two Burnt Dam fires continue to burn. They started on July 5. The first is estimated to be 131 hectares and is being held. The second is estimated to be 2.5 hectares and is under control.
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