LABRADOR CITY, N.L. – Firefighters began attacking a fire near Labrador City from the ground today, marking a new stage in the effort to get the roaring wildfire under control.
Newfoundland and Labrador forest fire duty officer Jeff Motty says there were about 20 firefighters from New Brunswick on the ground this morning and they’ll soon be joined by more colleagues from Newfoundland and Labrador.
He says ground crews must be helicoptered into the area and firefighters spent considerable time on Wednesday clearing out landing spots around the blaze.
Though steady water bombing will continue from above, Motty says it’s the “boots on the ground” that will ultimately put the fires out.
Motty says the size of the fire is holding steady at about 131 square kilometres, adding that it remains roughly six kilometres from the community of Labrador City.
Labrador City is home to more than 7,000 people and they were ordered to evacuate last week after a sudden shift in conditions sent the once-smouldering fire roaring back and moving quickly toward the town.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2024.
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