Portions of the towns of Paradise and Conception Bay South have been put on an evacuation alert due to the wildfire burning near Paddy’s Pond, which is now 200 hectares in size.
Premier John Hogan says the alerts are being put out by the towns as a precautionary measure, noting that the communities made the decision while speaking with officials from the department of forestry.
Hogan stresses that this is not an evacuation order, people do not need to leave their homes at this time, but they do need to be ready to do so on a moment’s notice.
For Paradise, it means the area on the south side of Topsail Road from the Outer Ring Road exit to the CBS boundary. For residents of CBS, it starts at the Paradise Outer Ring Road turnoff, on to route 60 through to the Manuel’s River Bridge, up Peacekeeper’s Way to the cloverleaf on the TCH, and then back to the Paradise TCH turnoff. Hogan says that means all people east of Manuel’s River should be ready to evacuate if needed.
There are no alerts in place for people in Mount Pearl or Southlands.
If people do need to evacuate, they will be asked to head to the two schools in Kelligrews.
Hogan urges people who don’t need to be in the area, to stay away because any extra cars on the road could impede response efforts.
Now is not the time, says Hogan, for people to go out and try to see the smoke or the flames, and says people need to stay away from the areas under an evacuation alert.
Meanwhile, as it relates to the Kingston fire in Conception Bay North, he confirms that the blaze has moved into the community of Ochre Pit Cove.
