Fire risk delays Canada Day fireworks in Newfoundland and Labrador

Canada Day fireworks.

Authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador have banned firework celebrations in parts of the province — just hours before they were set to ring out for Canada Day.

Forestry officials upgraded their fire risk index rating for the Avalon Peninsula just after 1 p.m. local time Wednesday. The move means fireworks and sky lanterns are prohibited. Drying forest vegetation is increasing the risk of wildfires, according to the region’s “High” rating description.

The City of St. John’s responded by cancelling their planned firework display at Quidi Vidi lake, set to take place Wednesday night. Other parts of the celebration, including a concert, will continue.

The city said in a statement posted to Facebook that the fireworks display will be re-evaluated on Thursday.

More than 100 people are still waiting to return to cabins and campgrounds in the Labrador West region of the province, after an evacuation order forced them out on Monday evening.

The Walsh River wildfire is still out-of-control, although the province’s Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands NL said in an update Wednesday afternoon that rain in the area is helping firefighters in their work.

“The Labrador City Fire Department has been doing excellent work supporting wildfire crews in the area and providing structure protection,” the department wrote on Facebook.

The Walsh River wildfire grew Tuesday afternoon, although officials said that growth was limited and was directed by firefighters.

Four other out-of-control wildfires — each smaller in scale — are burning in the Labrador West region, home to about 10,000 people.

Twenty-eight wildfires were burning out of control in the province on Wednesday afternoon, the majority of those inland in Labrador.