Multiple wildfires burning around Labrador City have forced people from their homes, adding another community to the list of those threatened by flames during a difficult wildfire stretch in Canada. An evacuation order was in effect for some residents as crews worked to keep the fires at bay near the mining city in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The provincial premier said that about 120 people had evacuated the area, a figure that reflected the number who had already cleared out as the fires burned nearby. The evacuations underscored the seriousness with which officials were treating the threat to the community.
Rather than a single blaze, officials described multiple wildfires burning in the vicinity of Labrador City, complicating the response as crews tried to gauge the direction and behaviour of the flames. The presence of more than one fire around the city added to the challenge of protecting homes and keeping escape routes open.
There were signs of progress in the firefight, however. Officials said they had been making some headway against the flames with water bombers, the aircraft that scoop and drop large loads of water on wildfires. The aerial attack was a key part of the effort to slow the fires threatening the area.
For those who left, the evacuation meant an anxious wait to learn whether their homes would be spared. With an order still in place for some, residents were being kept away from the danger zone while crews continued to work, the situation remaining fluid as conditions could shift with the weather.
The evacuations around Labrador City came amid a broader wildfire season straining communities across parts of Canada, with other remote areas also facing orders to leave. For now, the focus around Labrador City remained on holding the fires back and keeping residents safe until it was clear the threat had eased.