Labrador City evacuated, Wabush on notice as crews continue to battle wildfires

Residents of Labrador City, ordered to evacuate as a nearby out-of-control fire draws closer to the town, are being told to head east to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, more than 500 kilometres away.

Mayor Belinda Adams said Friday evening the E.J. Broomfield Arena will accommodate evacuees.

"The only way to go is to go east," said Adams in a Facebook video. "We cannot go the other way, we have to go east. So pack up your vehicles and go, and take essentials only."

As people prepare to evacuate, Adams urged residents to leave their recreational vehicles behind after receiving reports that people were trying to tow their campers, snowmobiles and ATVs.

"[There are] 9,000 people leaving our community in a line, so people need to take essentials only," Adams said in the video.

The provincial government says the fire has the potential to grow significantly closer to Labrador West over the next 24 to 48 hours. Neighbouring Wabush is under an evacuation alert, with residents advised to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.

The provincial government is advising residents to stay updated via media reports.

Tacora Resources has suspended operations at the Scully Mine site north of Wabush until conditions improve. On X, formerly Twitter, Premier Andrew Furey advised the town's residents of Wabush to also stay alert.

"An evacuation order is in place for the Town of Labrador City due of the status of the wildfire burning in western Labrador. Residents of Wabush are asked to remain vigilant as conditions can change. Check on your family, friends and neighbours, and please stay safe," Furey said.

The fire threatening Labrador West is one of three wildfires threatening communities in Labrador.

Earlier Friday, residents were warned to stay on guard.

There are currently 11 fires in the region, one of them near Wabush and Labrador City in western Labrador and another near Happy Valley-Goose Bay in central Labrador, with smoke affecting visibility on roads and rail lines.

Continued hot and dry conditions in the forecast set to potentially make them worse.

Shortly after 4:30 p.m. AT Friday, Wabush and Labrador City invoked its emergency operations centre and warned residents of a potential evacuation.

In a Facebook video, Wabush Mayor Ron Barron said they'll update residents as quickly as possible using its crisis management system and the town's Facebook page.

"If necessary, we will go door to door," said Barron, who said the last time the town had to evacuate due to wildfires was 2013.

Duley Lake Cabin & Camping and Walsh River Cabin areas near Labrador City have been evacuated.

The fire threatening Labrador West is moving fast, about 50 metres per minute, said provincial forest fire duty officer Jeff Motty earlier Friday afternoon.

"It's covering a fair bit of ground quickly," Motty said.

With its quick escalation, it's no longer safe to have water bombers on the fire. Motty said they have been pulled back for the time being.

Resources from New Brunswick are coming in to help protect critical infrastructure including highways, railways and campgrounds.

A third fire is burning near Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, an Inuit community on Labrador's north coast of Labrador.

All three fires of concern are deemed out of control on Newfoundland and Labrador's wildfire dashboard.

"We're in dire need of a good dose of water in Labrador," .

CBC N.L. meteorologist Ashley Brauweiler said Saturday will be dry throughout the day with temperatures in the mid-20s C but there is potential for rain.

"There is a slight chance of showers tonight for Lab West and early tomorrow morning for Happy Valley-Goose Bay, but the best chance of rain will be Sunday and Monday," Brauweiler said.

With rain comes the risk of thunderstorms. In the past week, lightning strikes have sparked more fires.

"When conditions are dry in the forest and you get lightning moving through the areas, it's really easy for the forest to be ignited by Mother Nature," Motty said earlier Friday.

Brauweiler said next week looks cooler with more rain in the forecast.

A break in hot and dry temperatures would be welcomed by fire crews. Motty expects current weather conditions near Happy Valley-Goose Bay will allow what's known as the Lower Brook fire to grow and produce a lot of smoke.

He's unsure how far the fire is from the town but says it's close enough to be of concern.

Motty said the province is ready to ask for firefighting resources from other provinces.

"If we need more resources, it's only a quick email."

So far, the provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan have helped in Labrador's firefighting efforts. Motty said they've since been demobilized but there are plans to bring some crews back.

"We've got strong partnerships that help us when we need the help," said Motty.

Residents can stay updated on the status of wildfires and evacuation measures through the news and social media, said Motty, who also suggests residents visit Fire Smart Canada's website to learn how to help protect their home and pack for an evacuation if necessary.

"We're just at the point we're kind of notifying communities that based on the best science available, we're anticipating growth on these fires."

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