The Provincial Government is advising residents of Badger that the evacuation order issued on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, has been lifted effective immediately.

All residents are permitted to return to their properties.

Residents are advised that there is still an active wildfire and there may be fire crews on scene working any hot spot areas. They can also expect to continue to see some smoke and action by aircraft. Residents are asked to proceed with caution and to seek guidance from town officials and first responders, if needed.

For any residents that may require transportation back to Badger, buses will be at Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium from 1:30-2:00 p.m. and the Mount Peyton Hotel from 2:00-2:15 p.m. Anyone who requires transportation to Badger should register at 709-729-0921.

The reception centre at the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium will remain open for the remainder of the day to for anyone that may require extended support. For inquiries, please call 709-729-0921.

The Provincial Government thanks the residents of Badger, Town of Badger, Town of Grand Falls-Windsor, first responders including fire and ground search and rescue volunteers, RCMP, Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army, volunteers and all those that offered food, clothing, shelter to those in need. Your dedicated efforts, cooperation and resilience during this challenging time is to be commended.

For the most up to date information, follow the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on Facebook, Bluesky and on X.

The latest information on the location, status, and size of active wildfires can be viewed online at the NL Active Wildfire Dashboard.

Fire Ban
The province-wide fire ban remains in effect.

The Fire Commissioner of Newfoundland and Labrador strongly recommends that municipalities, organizations and individuals refrain from any open fires or discharge of fireworks.

To report a wildfire, call: 1-866-709-FIRE (3473).

Use of Drones
The operation of drones in the vicinity of forest fires creates unsafe conditions for water bombers to protect communities.

All drone operators and the general public are asked to respect the dedicated efforts of our province’s firefighting personnel. Unauthorized drone use can result in fines and legal action.

For information about flying your drone safely and legally please visit the Transport Canada website here.

Be Prepared
Residents are asked to take steps to ensure their own personal safety. Residents should always have a basic emergency kit available and be prepared for at least 72 hours, with food, water, batteries, a portable radio, important documents and prescription medications. Visit gov.nl.ca/beprepared for more information on emergency preparedness.

Property owners can also protect their homes, neighborhoods, and communities from the threat of wildland fire by creating defensible space around their properties, including:

• Maintaining a five-foot (1.5-metre) non-combustible zone immediately around your home.
• Cleaning out and screening gutters to prevent debris.
• Using fire-resistant roofing materials on homes.
• Cleaning underneath decks and enclosing them to prevent them from filling with debris.
• Placing firewood piles away from your home.
• Trimming grass and weeds.
• Using FireSmart-approved vegetation when landscaping.

To learn more about protecting homes and properties, visit FireSmart Canada.

For air quality information, visit Air Quality Health Index.

Visit NL511 for up-to-date information on driving conditions, highway cameras, major incidents, current ferry status updates, and weather.

Mental health resources are available: call 811 or visit www.nl.bridgethegapp.ca.

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