Adam's Cove fire contained, state of emergency continues in C.B.N.

A wildfire that forced residents of Small Point-Adam's Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove in Conception Bay North to flee their community has now been deemed contained, says the provincial forest fire duty officer.

Roger Gillingham, chief of the North Shore Volunteer Fire Department, told Radio-Canada that favourable weather conditions allowed several dozen firefighters to control the fire.

"Right now the only fire that we see are some instances of hot spots from some of the structures that were destroyed in the fire. And there are still some very small fires that are on the outer edges of the fire," Gillingham said at around 3 p.m. NT on Thursday. "But for the most part, the fire is certainly under control now."

Multiple water bombers and the use of nine pump trucks also helped quell the fire.

The fire prompted the town to declare a state of emergency Wednesday night, and residents of Adam's Cove north of Cave Lane, those north of Black Head Brook and those in the area south of River Loop Road in Western Bay have been told to evacuate.

In a post on social media just after 8 p.m, the provincial government said the number of impacted structures affected by the fire, including homes and a warehouse housing recreational vehicles, had reached 45.

The fire burned 501 hectares in size as of around 4 p.m., according to the province's active wildfire dashboard.

Speaking with CBC News just before 6 p.m., Gillingham said most of the danger had passed with no major injuries or fatalities reported. Some firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation.

"It's been a very difficult 30 hours or so. We've experienced something here in this area that we've never experienced before, and never dreamed of experiencing," he said.

"Places where people's homes and cabins and sheds were … there's absolutely nothing left," he said.

Those needing medical attention will need to do so via virtual care, the province said, as the Western Bay Medical Clinic has closed. Those with appointments are being contacted individually.

Provincial forest fire duty officer Jeff Motty told CBC News later Thursday afternoon that the fire's perimeter was 50 per cent contained.

"With 50 per cent of the perimeter contained, we're comfortable in stating the fact that we don't expect that fire perimeter to grow," he said.

"We can really start working within the perimeter on the edges of it. You know, just go around, identify hot spots, and continue to put them out and suppress that."