Wildfire Update - August 9, 2025
At 6 PM this evening, the Province held a second live stream updating the public on the state of the wildfires. At that time the following was announced:
The Provincial Government declared a regional state of emergency for the Bay de Verde Peninsula. Due to the extreme fire activity in the area, ground crews have been pulled from the front lines.
Updates to follow.
The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador held a livestream earlier today (August 9, 2025) to update the public on the status of the ongoing wildfires and suppression efforts around them. Premier John Hogan led the briefing, and here are the highlights from their update. The livestream in its entirety can be found at the bottom of this page.
Here is the latest…
Fresh Help on the Way
Quebec is sending four water bombers — two arriving later today, two more tomorrow — plus a “bird dog” aircraft to guide aerial suppression.
Twenty wildland firefighters from Ontario are expected to arrive today.
Canadian Coast Guard helicopters and the Canadian Armed Forces are already in action.
All of this has more than doubled suppression capacity, giving our local crews and volunteers some much-needed rest.
Kingston Fire
Grew by about 200 hectares overnight, now just over 3,000 hectares.
Most growth was to the northwest toward Island Pond.
Crews are working with three water bombers, four helicopters, and heavy equipment on the southern and northern edges.
Winds gusting up to 40 km/h today could push fire activity higher.
The head of the fire is now 2.5 km from Western Bay.
Holyrood Fire
Still about 22 hectares in size.
A hose line surrounds the perimeter, and crews are working on hot spots.
Some residents returned home yesterday, but the evacuation order stays in place until officially lifted.
Martin Lake Fire
Slight growth to 245 hectares, mainly on the north and south edges.
Eastern perimeter is holding thanks to both air and ground crews.
A fuel break is being built between Martin Lake and Great Rattling Brook.
Smoke may be an issue along Route 360 — the highway could close if conditions worsen.
Evacuations & Support
Nearly 3,000 people from 1,500 households are currently under evacuation orders.
Reception centres in Carbonear and Conception Bay South are open 24/7 with meals, showers, and mental health support.
You don’t need to be staying at a centre to get help — all evacuees are eligible.
A $500 payment will be available to households evacuated from their primary residence. You must register with the Red Cross to qualify.
Public Safety
Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for tips that lead to the arrest of anyone responsible for deliberately starting fires. Tips remain anonymous.
A province-wide fire ban is still in place — no open fires.
The Days Ahead
Strong winds, very dry conditions, and extreme fire weather risk will make firefighting tough over the next couple of days.
Please stick to official sources for updates and avoid sharing unconfirmed info.
