The province will provide an update on wildfires burning in central Newfoundland this afternoon.
The update with Premier Andrew Fury, Public Safety Minister John Hogan and Transport Minister Elvis Loveless will be held at the Provincial Emergency Operations Center in St. John at 2 p.m.
VOCM News will be broadcasting it live.
Bay D’Espoir Highway (Rt 360) is now open. Citizens are asked to drive slowly and not to stop. Please be patient and be safe. Further updates will be provided as conditions change. #govnl #nlwx #nltraffic pic.twitter.com/KE76dmkIWP
— Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture NL (@FFA_GovNL) August 9, 2022
The Department of Forestry says the Bay D’Espoir Highway is now open. Drivers are asked to be patient, drive slowly and do not stop.
Updates will continue to be provided as conditions change.
Most parts of the island are finally getting some much needed rain, but the forecasted rainfall is nowhere near what is needed to help put out these fires.
The Southwest Coast, South Coast and Avalon Peninsula will see the heaviest rainfall today through tomorrow morning.
Environment Canada meteorologist Justin Boudreau says the rain and cooler temperatures are helping, though. He says the area affected by the bushfires is expecting approximately 15mm of rain, with just a few mm expected along the north-east coast.
(Photo via Atlantic Grocery Distributors.)
Residents of the Gulf Coast have received shipments of much-needed goods that are spoiling due to the closure of the Baie d’Espoir Highway.
Goods are being flown into the region today by helicopter, while the Sound of Islay ferry, which was sent to the area with fuel, is now in dry dock with mechanical problems.
Deputy Mayor of Harbor Breton Roy Drake said things were at breaking point, with all essentials becoming scarce, including milk, bread, eggs, meat, vegetables and fruit.
Meanwhile, Drake says communities on the Connaigre Peninsula are helping each other.
He says that Harbor Breton needed a chlorine tank for the water supply system, which they picked up at the Hermitage. In the meantime, the priority for today is refueling, which will likely be distributed while they wait for the shipment to arrive by boat.
Please DO NOT go to your cabin if it is near Bay D’Espoir Highway (Rt 360) or Paradise Lake. These are areas with active fires. They are not safe; and hindering crews fighting the fire #Govnl #nlwx #nltraffic pic.twitter.com/thsjqaOAfp
— Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture NL (@FFA_GovNL) August 9, 2022
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