A wildfire is still threatening the community of Badger but wet weather is expected to help crews fight the fire, says Newfoundland and Labrador’s fire officer.
The forest fire started on Tuesday, ignited by a lightning strike near the community. On Wednesday, the province ordered residents of the town to evacuate and head to the nearby community of Grand Falls-Windsor.
The provincial government also brought in a province-wide fire ban.
Forestry protection supervisor Jeff Motty anticipates Thursday will be a “bust day” fighting the wildfire that’s threatening Badger.
“If everything holds through, the [fire weather index] should decrease down to a level of moderate,” he told CBC News on Wednesday evening, “which will be good for our crews to be able to get in and just start working that fire and trying to put out any hotspots and anything in between that they can get out.”
He said the fire was 600 metres from the town, but they have downgraded it from a Rank 5 fire to Rank 3.
He expects firefighting efforts to pick up as well — there are 35 personnel on site and Motty said they’ve asked for more resources.
“We’ll get waterbombers back out on site to work the northwest flank. A helicopter will be bucketing too,” said Motty.
As of Thursday morning the provincial fire hazard map lists the central area of Newfoundland as having a very high risk of fire.
Badger Mayor Dennis Butt is cautiously optimistic about firefighting efforts going forward, “but we’re still considering this ‘very critical.’ We don’t want to give anyone any false reassurance,” he told CBC Radio’s Newfoundland Morning on Thursday.
He said the town will get an update from provincial officials at 9:30 a.m.
Butt said the fire is directly across from town but it hasn’t jumped the river. There were also crews in the town overnight using sprinklers to spray water on infrastructure in case the fire did reach the community.
Some residents did choose to stay in the town despite the evacuation order, said Butt.
He said roads are still open.
As of Wednesday night, 575 residents had registered with the Red Cross at the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium, and Butt is encouraging people to register if they have not already. It can be done in person at the arena or by calling 709-729-0921.
Butt said all residents have been able to find accommodations, including at other people’s homes, hotels and motels.
“So a large outpouring of support for our community and its residents. We can’t be thankful enough for that.”
Meteorologist Angelie Menard said Badger had 2.5 millimetres of rain overnight and she’s forecasting more for the area, which is good news for firefighting.
“So that will help, definitely, to lessen the fire. And then really we’re looking at some more rain overnight tonight, with some two to four millimetres. It could even go up to five. So that will also help,” she told CBC Radio’s The St. John’s Morning Show.
But Menard said winds are expected to increase on Friday afternoon, with gusts of 50 kilometre per hour.
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