Last night, Public Safety Minister John Hogan declared a state of emergency for Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop’s Falls and the Connaigre Peninsula. The government says this was done as a precaution, allowing the province to work with emergency management officials. Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair announced on Twitter Saturday night that the request for help from the provincial government had been approved. Canadian forces will come to the province to help the affected areas. Prime Minister Andrew Fury released a video address on the situation last night. He says this is the largest wildfire seen in the province since 1961. Currently, Furey says the fire’s forecast path does not directly affect any communities, but changing winds will have an impact on smoke distribution in the area, which has led him to ask the Attorney General to declare a state of emergency. It also asked Central Health to prepare an evacuation plan for hospitals, long-term care facilities and personal care homes. Also, people in the area should be on “high alert” for possible future evacuations. For the past few weeks, two main fire crews have been battling, one on Paradise Lake and the other on Bay D’Espoir Highway. However, Forestry Minister Derrick Bragg says those conditions are changing. He says given the weather conditions these two fires have the potential to merge into one, causing significant smoke problems. Officials say they expect some significant extreme fire behavior today if the fires merge as predicted. The blaze could stretch up to 10 kilometers, bringing it within 10 to 15 kilometers of Grand Falls-Windsor. They say the smoke is a concern, as is the potential for embers and ash to fall on property. They are asking people to “smart fire” their properties by mowing their lawns, clearing mulch, trimming trees around their homes and removing any flammables. Residents should be prepared to leave immediately. A fire line is also being constructed along the Nalcor transmission lines as a line of defense in case fire becomes a threat to communities. The government will update the situation live later this morning. Via Derrick Bragg on Facebook
