FIRE IN FLATROCK BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL AFTER WATER BOMBER ASSIST

Torbay firefighters, along with support from neighbouring agencies and provincial forestry crews, spent more than two hours battling a brush fire near the East Coast Trail on Wednesday evening (May 6th)

Emergency crews were dispatched shortly after 4:00 p.m. to the area of Wade’s Farm Road in Flatrock following reports of a fire in a wooded and grassy area near the trail system. Upon arrival, firefighters found multiple meadows burning near the end of Wade’s Farm Road.

According to information from the scene, forestry officials were requested shortly after Torbay firefighters arrived. The fire later extended into trees surrounding the open meadow areas.

As conditions intensified, a water bomber aircraft was requested to assist firefighters. The aircraft completed two separate water drops over the fire area while crews worked to contain the blaze from the ground.

The fire was estimated to have grown to approximately three acres in size. Smoke from the blaze could be seen throughout the Torbay area and from some parts of St. John’s. Windgap Road was temporarily closed during firefighting operations to allow emergency crews safe access to the area.

By approximately 6:30 p.m., the fire had been brought under control and Pouch Cove Fire Department was released from the scene. Torbay firefighters remained on site completing overhaul operations alongside forestry officials.

According to the Provincial Government’s Fire Hazard Map, the Northeast Avalon is currently under a High Fire Hazard warning. The advisory states that the threat of wildfire is increasing and that extreme caution should be used during activities on forested land, including ATV use and operating machinery. Burning permits are currently cancelled, while open fires within 300 metres of forested land are only permitted under specific conditions.

There were no reports of injuries, and the cause of the fire has not been released.