'As bad as it gets': C.B.N. fire destroyed buildings and homes, residents say
CBC
Residents in the community of Small Point-Adam's Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove have been forced to flee from a raging wildfire that has destroyed buildings and homes.
The town issued a state of emergency just before 10:30 p.m. NT Wednesday. It also comes with an evacuation order for residents of Adam's Cove north of Cave Lane.
The RCMP has closed the road between Adam's Cove and Western Bay, telling residents to travel south toward Victoria or north toward Lower Island Cove. Newfoundland Power also cut electricity in nearby Ochre Pit Cove, Burnt Point and Kingston.
Rest stops have since been set up at Persalvic Elementary School in Victoria and the AYLA building in Lower Island Cove for those who are unable to return to their homes.
Bernie Judge and Ruth Riome, residents of Adam's Cove, fled earlier in the evening.
"This is about as bad as it gets … in a beautiful little place like this," Bernie Judge, a resident of Adam's Cove, told CBC News Wednesday night.
Wildfires cropped up across the Avalon Peninsula throughout Wednesday, the most dangerous of which is in Small Point-Adam's Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove in Conception Bay North. Residents of the area who spoke with CBC News described large flames and black smoke that crossed roads.
Judge said there was a fire in the same area on Tuesday, but fire crews were able to handle it. On Wednesday, things were different.
"This one got out of control, and it's after jumping the road. We're pretty sure there's some buildings, homes, lost. And we're just hoping that ours is still in place," he said.
"It just feels really surreal," Riome added.
Earlier in the day, provincial forest fire duty officer Jeff Motty told CBC News the fire is big, very active and out of control — and that homes had been "ignited."
Fire crews remain on scene, he said in an update at around 8:30 p.m. NT Wednesday, and that multiple water bombers had been deployed.
Judge and Riome said people had to act fast once the decision to evacuate had been made. Riome said she scrambled to help her neighbour collect her valuables.
"I went over with her and collected the pictures off the walls of her house," Riome said. "Then I went to get Bernie, and they wouldn't let us back in again."
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