Residents of two small communities in the east of Newfoundland fled their houses on Thursday while a forest fire was raging along the shore of the design bay, fire houses and other buildings about 45 kilometers northwest of St. John’s.
The fire started in the city of Adam’s Cove and Thursday afternoon on Wednesday, it had damaged more than 20 structures, including houses and garages, driven by dry conditions and strong winds, officials said.
In a community center in Small Point, NL, around 50 people, moved by the flames, have chatted nervously and celebrated a sudden rainfall.
“There are people who are here today and they do not know if their house is still there,” said Marie Kennell, a volunteer working in the kitchen helping to feed the evacuated. She was carrying sandwiches and hot tea to local firefighters since Wednesday afternoon.
Joan Dwyer, another volunteer working alongside Kennell, said that she had never seen anything like forest fires in Adam’s Cove.
“It’s frightening,” she said. “It’s unreal.”
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The Fire of Adam’s Cove was one of the six to light in the east of Newfoundland on Wednesday. On Thursday afternoon, he measured about five square kilometers and was listed as “detainee”, which means that he was unlikely to spread more, said Jeff Motty, forest protection supervisor with the government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Southwest of St. John’s, near Holyrood, a forest fire burned about a kilometer from the Provincial Butterpot Park. But the officials said he did not present a threat to the structures, and time seemed favorable to the abolition of fires.
A state of emergency was declared in the cove of Adam and part of the city was evacuated. Western Bay residents were also invited to leave. The RCMP has closed part of the highway connecting cities, to keep people away from the flames.
The coastal cities are largely made up of colored board houses scattered along the rocky cliffs which plunge into the design bay. Western Bay is home to around 225 people, and the merged city of Small-Point-Adam’s Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove has a population of around 415.
The city mayor, Curtis Delaney, said that he was still too early to say when people could go home. Those inappropriately remained with family or friends. About 150 presented themselves for a community breakfast at the town hall on Thursday morning, and people felt hopeful and grateful for the rain, said Delaney.
Inside the corridor, the tables were stacked with water, juice, muffin packs and other snacks. There were layers and toiletries for all those who needed them. Resident Gerry Rogers said his phone was on with messages from people from all over the country, trying to find their friends and family who live in the region.
Rogers had to leave his home Thursday morning. She said she could see the flames approach her window.
“To be somewhere where there is a unleashed fire – a unleashed fire! – And you are surrounded by water,” said Rogers, his attractive voice. “It’s so ironic, do you know?” Because we are on the ocean. “
Motty said that the water bombers turned off on the flames on Wednesday and Thursday, and that the crews stayed to eliminate hot spots and assess damage to the region. The cause of the fire was still the subject of an investigation, he said.
This Canadian press report was published for the first time on May 8, 2025.
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press