Newfoundland and Labrador Premier John Hogan speaks at a news conference. Out-of-control wildfires have threatened St. John's this week and forced thousands from their homes.Greg Locke/The Globe and Mail
Frustrated fire officials in Newfoundland and Labrador battling multiple blazes are also having to contend with online misinformation and people angry at government-imposed precautions.
The out-of-control fires, which have threatened the provincial capital this week and forced thousands from their homes, are among 214 wildfires in the province so far this season, a more than 100-per-cent increase over last year.
The provincial government has introduced a ban on all-terrain vehicles on forested roads, and some residents are airing complaints using an emergency line meant to assist people in at-risk areas.
In a news conference Thursday, provincial Justice Minister John Haggie made plain that he had lost his patience.
“To all those assholes that were on the phone yesterday talking crap to our staff, stop it,” he said.
Provincial officials asked people to honour “the spirit” of what they’re trying to do to prevent wildfires instead of looking for ways around the rules.
Cooler temperatures and some rain are in the forecast, and officials said at a briefing Thursday morning that they are cautiously optimistic things could improve.
Some of that early-morning optimism dissipated during the day as smoke and cloud cover disrupted aerial plans to attack multiple fires, according to an evening news release.
This morning, Premier John Hogan warned that fire activity could change at any time. Online claims that the fires have been extinguished are false: No visible flames does not mean there isn’t fire, he said.
Rumours that emergency health services are closed and that water restrictions have been implemented are also untrue, officials said. Throughout most of the province, clinics are open and water is safe to drink.
“Please listen to government sources and not these fools on Facebook,” Mr. Haggie said.
Thousands of residents near the capital remain under evacuation alerts, although southwest winds are now blowing the fire away from St. John’s.
Largest wildfire in Newfoundland may have destroyed up to 100 homes and structures, officials say
Waterbombers and helicopters continue to douse the smoking Paddy’s Pond wildfire, located south of St. John’s, and the Kingston wildfire across Conception Bay. Ground crews are cutting down dense forest, creating a fire break between the Trans-Canada Highway and the city.
A 20-year-old man was charged with arson and incurred $150,000 in fines for setting four fires in St. John’s on Tuesday night. No other arrests have been made in connection with the wildfires, Mr. Hogan said.
An evacuation centre in Carbonear is a 15-minute drive from the Kingston fire command centre, which is tackling a blaze that has grown to more than 8,000 hectares. For some evacuees, it’s the second or third place they’ve moved as the fire grows.
“We feel that we’ve been left to burn,” Norman Jenkins, who evacuated his home of 32 years in Western Bay, said.
Sitting in a parking lot turned RV park, Mr. Jenkins and other residents who were ordered to leave their homes wonder how much of their community is still standing. They’re frightened, scared and anxious for answers from officials, Mr. Jenkins said.
How Newfoundland and Labrador turned into a hot spot for wildfires
On Thursday morning, officials said about 100 structures had been lost to wildfire, including one school. It’s the first estimate of the destruction officials have given since Mr. Hogan and cabinet ministers started daily wildfire updates 12 days ago.
Mr. Jenkins believes his mother’s house to be included in that count.
“It’s just word of mouth. That’s our problem. People want to know and we shouldn’t have to rely on word of mouth because not everything is true,” he said.
Kim Whalen, an evacuee and Western Bay local, said the wildfires have changed her life and community forever. Before leaving her home of 59 years, Ms. Whalen packed her family photo albums and sentimental Christmas decorations.
Not knowing whether she’ll have a home to return to, all she can do is wait and pray for rain.
“People say you can rebuild. It’s not just a building. It’s memories. It’s my home,” Ms. Whalen said.
Waterbombers and helicopters are dousing the Paddy’s Pond wildfire, west of St John's.Greg Locke/The Globe and Mail
There have been more than 10 fires in the Conception Bay North region since May, and many evacuees are concerned there is an arsonist at large.
“Everybody’s stress level is high … there’s a lot of unanswered questions from the government,” Ms. Whalen said.
Western Bay is one of five unincorporated communities under evacuation order. Because it is not part of a municipality, there is no formal local representation to advocate on residents’ behalf to higher levels of government.
More than 2,000 households registered with the Canadian Red Cross as evacuees, according to Bill Lawlor, the Atlantic region vice-president for the Red Cross. Volunteers are working to support people with food, shelter and entertainment.
“The fire season we’re experiencing right now is extraordinarily unusual for Newfoundland and Labrador,” Mr. Lawlor said.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported that Norman Jenkins also believed that the drugstore he co-owns was among properties in Western Bay destroyed by wildfire. This version has been corrected.