A wildfire detected Saturday evening near Musgrave Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador has rapidly advanced from eight kilometres away to just one kilometre from the community, prompting an evacuation order and deployment of all four provincial water bombers.
The evacuation order issued Sunday affects both the town of Musgrave Harbour and the Banting Memorial Park Campground located near the community.
Rapid Fire Progression
In a provincial update provided at noon Sunday, Jamie Chippett, Deputy Minister of the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, described the fire's alarming progression.
He described that when the fire was first detected on Saturday evening at about 8pm, it was eight kilometres away from the community. Now, it stands at only one kilometre away.
The fire has also reached the highest activity level on the international fire behaviour ranking system used by Newfoundland and Labrador.
"It is at a very high rank, a Rank 5 in technical terms; very active"
Chippett noted that the scale only goes to 6, making this an extremely vigorous surface fire.
Challenging Weather Conditions
Prevailing winds are driving the fire directly toward the community, with conditions creating a dangerous scenario for residents.
"We have weather conditions with wind that is 40 gusting to 50 west-southwest, which unfortunately puts the community directly in the line of the fire"
The size of the blaze remains difficult to assess due to heavy smoke conditions, though officials confirmed it spans "within the hundreds of hectares."
Emergency Response
Minister of Justice and Public Safety John Haggie characterized the situation as "a significant and serious issue" while coordinating the emergency response.
All four of the province's active water bombers are now attacking the blaze, representing the full aerial firefighting capacity available. The town's council declared a state of emergency Sunday morning, determining that the wildfire poses a serious safety risk to residents and property.
Evacuation Procedures
Evacuees are being directed to a reception centre in Gander at the Steele Memorial Centre on 155 Airport Boulevard, where the Canadian Red Cross is providing assistance.
"It's important that we have that information so we can help you, even if you don't use the Steel Centre itself," Haggie said, urging all affected residents to call 709-729-0921 to register regardless of whether they plan to use the services.
For residents without vehicles, transportation is being provided from the Musgrave Harbour fire department to bring evacuees to Gander.
Flight Restrictions
Officials issued stern warnings about unauthorized drone use in the fire area, which could ground critical aerial firefighting operations.
"Drones in the air means no water bombers in the air," Haggie emphasized.
"Unauthorized drone use is actually a criminal offence."
Weather Outlook
While Monday's forecast calls for slightly lighter winds, they are expected to continue pushing the fire toward the community.
Chippet noted that the first real relief is expected on Tuesday, when cooler temperatures are expected along with different wind direction and potentially some significant precipitation.
Forecasts indicate possible precipitation Monday evening, though substantial relief isn't expected until Tuesday.
Provincial Fire Situation
The Musgrave Harbour fire represents part of a challenging fire season across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Multiple other fires continue burning across the province, including a 1,660-hectare blaze near Chance Harbour that remains out of control, and active fires at Nine Island Pond and Northwest Brook where ground crews continue working.
Despite the multiple active fires, provincial officials indicated current suppression resources remain adequate, though Haggie noted that "if things get worse, the province will look at asking other provinces for help."
Fire Ban Remains in Effect
A province-wide fire ban continues across Newfoundland and Labrador, with officials reminding residents that open fires remain prohibited.
Environment Canada has issued an air quality warning for the Musgrave Harbour area due to high smoke levels, with air quality concerns particularly affecting firefighting crews on the ground.
The health authority has positioned additional support at the James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre in Gander to address both physical and mental health needs of evacuees.
The cause of the Musgrave Harbour fire remains under investigation as crews continue battling the blaze.
Images originally shared by Roger Jordan Hicks on Facebook
Join the Conversation