More than 100 evacuated from Labrador West as multiple wildfires threaten highway, campgrounds

A bird dog aircraft helping crews douse water on wildfires near Labrador City (Ian White/CTV News)

Firefighters in Newfoundland and Labrador have received a boost from neighbouring New Brunswick, with a bird dog aircraft helping crews douse water on out-of-control wildfires near Labrador City.

More than 100 people have been forced to evacuate from cabins and homes near the Walsh River area, according to Premier Tony Wakeham. One of the wildfires is burning about nine kilometres away from Labrador City, near the Trans Labrador Highway.

The fire forced evacuations Monday evening in three nearby parks and cabin areas. Evacuees were sent into Labrador City and nearby Wabush — which make up the region of Labrador West, home to about 10,000 people.

Labrador City town officials said in an update posted to Facebook Tuesday morning, that while “good progress” had been made in fire suppression efforts overnight, evacuation orders and the state of emergency remain in place.

The town has postponed planned Canada Day celebrations set to take place Wednesday.

Firefighters are also working to assess four other fires, south and east of Labrador West, including a fire near De Mille Lake that is close to the Trans Labrador Highway.

“An Incident Management Team is being put in place for Labrador to assist crews in managing the wildfires,” the Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands said in a Facebook update Tuesday morning.

“Waterbombers made significant progress on wildfires in the Walsh River area west of Labrador City Monday evening, as well as the De Mille Lake fire east of Wabush,” the update read.

Quebec authorities shut down Highway 389 between the Relais Gabriel and Mont-Wright — just east of the border between Quebec and Labrador — on Tuesday morning, due to smoke that had lowered visibility along the highway.

Labrador City town staff have begun distributing N95 masks to residents at a local mall.

The town said on Facebook, that forestry officials would re-evaluate the evacuation orders after another day of firefighting efforts on Wednesday.