Phone lines down as emergency crews continue to fight wildfire east of Churchill Falls
CBC
Emergency crews continue to fight an out of control wildfire burning near Churchill Falls, Labrador Thursday morning.
The Newfoundland and Labrador active wildfire dashboard shows the fire is estimated to be roughly 170 hectares.
A second, smaller fire is also burning nearby. That fire is roughly five hectares.
In a statement, the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture said the wildfire is burning one kilometre east of the town on the north side of the Trans-Labrador Highway.
The department said wildland firefighters and two water bombers are working to push back the blaze, and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is also working to support the suppression effort.
The fire, according to the department, is moving east, away from the town and infrastructure in the area.
In a community update, N.L. Hydro says emergency ground crews and helicopters are working to identify hot spots. But Friday, temperatures are expected cool and showers are forecasted.
Phone lines are out of service at the Churchill Falls community building and surrounding facilities, said Hydro.
The town's clinic is open and emergency services can be reached by calling 709-735-0092 or 911.
In an early morning update, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said that traffic is able to pass on the Trans-Labrador Highway, east of the community, after closing a stretch of the road Wednesday evening.
The RNC says it will continue to monitor risk to public safety.
Meanwhile, the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay issued a fire ban early Wednesday morning. The town's fire department says it will be keeping an eye on the conditions and will have an update with the ban is lifted.
There was a brief power outage Churchill Falls on Wednesday evening, along with towns in Labrador West. Hydro said the reason was because it had to switch the town's power distribution to another feeder after a pole line was damaged and taken out of service.
The company says power lines into Labrador City and Wabush remain in service and it will continue to monitor the situation closely. An update is expected later on Thursday.
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