The states of emergency imposed for Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop’s Falls, the Connaigre Peninsula and Botwood ended at the weekend and the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture says it’s a big relief. Derrick Bragg says Mother Nature started the fires and helped stabilize them, with rain and high humidity in the area keeping the fires on the ground. There are plenty of hot spots to deal with, Bragg says, but there are no longer live flames. He says water bombers are still being used when needed, but two bombers and a Birddog aircraft are being returned to Quebec today. He says 20 people are moving from Nova Scotia to help with the work on site. Bragg says that while things look good, adverse weather conditions could cause hot spots to ignite. He says the fire won’t be called “under control” until it’s completely out. Some forest roads have reopened, but not those closer to the hot spots. Six or seven cabins were destroyed, Bragg says the department has contacted those cabin owners. Bragg says that, in terms of wildlife, most of the larger animals left the area when the fire and smoke started. The government will make a proper assessment once the fires are fully extinguished. He hopes more rain this week will limit the hot spots, especially near the Paradise Lake area where they are experiencing hot spots on the north side near some cabins.
