The Honourable Dr. John Haggie, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, has declared a regional state of emergency for a portion of the Bay de Verde Peninsula from Bristol’s Hope to Whiteway (the communities in the entirety of the Carbonear-Trinity-Bay de Verde electoral district), due to out-of-control wildfires today.

A regional state of emergency allows the province to co-ordinate the activities of all provincial and municipal services in the area and to engage personnel as required.

It is important to note, this is NOT a full region evacuation, but all residents are asked to be prepared to evacuate their community on short notice.

The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre is operating at Level 3. Officials continue to meet and coordinate the emergency response with all necessary emergency partners and relevant jurisdictions.

The province’s forest fire services are working diligently to suppress and control the spread of these wildfires, but the current weather conditions and forecast conditions are conducive to extreme fire behavior.

As of this moment, evacuation orders in this region have been issued for:

• Town of Small Point–Adam’s Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove
• Town of Salmon Cove
• Unincorporated area of Western Bay
• Unincorporated area of Kingston
• Unincorporated area of Perry’s Cove
• Unincorporated area of Ochre Pit Cove
• Unincorporated area of Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay
• An evacuation alert is in effect for the Town of Victoria.

For the most up to date information, please visit the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s website www.gov.nl.ca, and Provincial Government social media channels on Facebook and on X.

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.

Mental Health
An emergency event can lead to fear and anxiety. Mental health resources and supports are available at the reception centre at Carbonear Academy 24/7.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, need support, or are looking for health information, call 811.

If you are feeling anxious and alone, you can also call the Lifewise Provincial Warm Line at 1-855-753-2560 seven days a week from 10:00am to midnight NDT, to speak with a trained peer support worker who is there and ready to listen.

You can also visit Bridge the Gapp to access age-appropriate programs and services that are available locally, confidential and free.

Fire Ban
All residents of the province are reminded that a fire ban is in effect across Newfoundland and Labrador. Open fires are not permitted.

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

For air quality information, visit Air Quality Health Index..

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