New fire near Paddy’s Pond means people should ‘get ready to leave on a moment’s notice’
An evacuation alert was issued for parts of the towns Conception Bay South and Paradise Monday evening as the out-of-control Thomas Pond wildfire quickly grew to 200 hectares since it started earlier on Monday.
All properties in the area on the south side of Topsail Road from the Outer Ring Road exit to the C.B.S. boundary, and residents east of Manuels River should be prepared to evacuate if directed.
Between 13,000 to 15,000 people are under the evacuation alert.
Meanwhile, in a traffic advisory issued at 8:30 p.m. Monday evening, the RCMP closed a section of the Trans-Canada Highway between the Pitts Memorial Drive cloverleaf and the Foxtrap Access Road.
If an evacuation order is put in place, Premier John Hogan said evacuees should go to the two schools in Kelligrews, C.B.S.
“Throughout the rest of the evening and potentially overnight, everyone in this area must be prepared to receive an evacuation order on a moment’s notice,” Hogan said during a wildfire update Monday evening, just hours after issuing an evacuation order for the Paddy’s Pond industrial area.
Earlier Monday, the province ordered people to evacuate areas including Akita Equipment and surrounding buildings and hangars. The order came after the Thomas Pond wildfire ignited along the pole line near Paddy’s Pond, between the Trans-Canada Highway and Fowler’s Road, around noon on Monday.
With multiple out-of-control wildfires burning throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, Hogan encouraged everyone to have an emergency bag packed.
“Any emergency can arise at any time anyway, whether it’s fires, or storms, or even a fire in your own home, or your neighbour’s home. We could go on, and on and on. So, I think it’s probably safe practice to make sure that everybody is ready for any emergency situation,” he said.
In a post on social media Monday afternoon, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said police, emergency, and fire services were at the scene.
“Members of the community are asked to avoid the area while emergency responders navigate response and suppression efforts,” the post said.
This woman says Paddy’s Pond fire has her ready to ‘pack up papers’ to be ready to flee
Akita Equipment co-owner Amy Furey Howlett also posted on social media on Monday afternoon. She asked anyone with a Class 1 driver’s licence for help, as the company worked to move its equipment away from its facility on Paddy’s Pond Road.
Provincial fire duty officer Mark Lawlor said three water bombers were diverted from the Kingston fire to try to suppress the Thomas Pond fire. Helicopters and firefighters from the St. John’s Regional Fire Department were also on the scene.
Lawlor told CBC’s On The Go that all efforts were concentrated on keeping the wildfire away from the Conception Bay Highway.
“We’re trying to work that fire literally into Paddy’s Pond if we can. We’re going to try and work the northern flank, and turn the fire as best we can. That’s the goal,” Lawlor said. “The primary concern is to try to ensure that it doesn’t reach the C.B.S. highway and cross over.”
Hogan said there is no imminent danger to anyone living in the communities near Paddy’s Pond, but the wildfire is moving fast.
“It’s moving toward Paddy’s Pond right now,” Hogan said during a live wildfire update Monday afternoon.
He said power interruptions are expected. Lawlor confirmed that one transmission line has been shut down after Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro posted a public advisory on its website. It said the fire is directly in the public utility’s transmission corridor, which serves the St. John’s metro area.
“There is a potential for smoke, fire and/or fire suppression efforts to impact these lines. In the unlikely scenario that multiple lines are impacted, this could result in a power outage to St. John’s and surrounding areas,” the advisory said.
The Town of Conception Bay South issued a traffic advisory following the evacuation order. The town asked drivers to avoid the C.B.S Industrial Park and Fowler’s Road.
Mayor Darrin Bent told CBC News some drivers were stopping to take photos of the smoke along Peacekeepers Way, and it was causing traffic delays and congestion along the highway.
Monday afternoon, the RCMP said secondary roads in the Paddy’s Pond evacuation area remained closed. Fowler’s Road at Peacekeepers Way was also closed to southbound traffic.
The Town of C.B.S. also closed all of its indoor and outdoor recreation facilities to reduce unnecessary travel within the town and on town roads.
Drivers were asked to avoid unnecessary travel through the town.
Meanwhile, the City of St. John’s advised that smoke from the fire reduced air quality throughout the city and its surrounding areas.
“Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed and to turn off air exchangers and HVAC units to help reduce indoor smoke exposure,” City of St. John’s spokesperson Jackie O’Brien said in a news release.
