(Bay d’Espoir Motorway via Department of Transport.) The provincial government has declared an open fire ban for East and Central Newfoundland. The decision comes as crews continue to battle a serious series of fires in the Bay D’Espoir Freeway area. Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue for some time to come, increasing the challenges of fighting the flames. The ban means that it is forbidden to light fires in a forest area or within 300 meters of a forest area. The ban will be in effect for about 10 days, until midnight on August 16. Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Minister Derrick Bragg held a walkthrough of the fires on Friday. File photo He says the flames have been burning on both sides of the highway for at least three or four kilometers, bringing with them “heavy” smoke. Bragg describes some of the devastation left in the fire’s wake. In the Paradise Lake area, he can confirm that one cabin has been completely destroyed by fire and several others are in its wake. As a precaution, cabins in the area were sprayed with foam the other day. Bragg says they are working to build a “fire break” in the area Saturday as a precaution in case the weather doesn’t change, and admits the weather isn’t working in their favor so far. Bragg stresses the importance of cabin owners leaving the area. He says they were flying over Paradise Lake the other day and the helicopter had to land because they noticed people in the area in their cabins. Bragg notes that most people were there collecting items, but stresses that “it’s too late” to go to the area and doesn’t want to put anyone’s life in danger.
