The fight against the blaze threatening Churchill Falls is progressing, assures Hydro NL.

Despite fears that the forest fires threatening Churchill Falls could grow due to the wind on Friday, Hydro Newfoundland and Labrador says the blaze has still not crossed the Churchill River.

During a press briefing held Friday afternoon, the CEO of Hydro Newfoundland and Labrador, Jennifer Williamsindicated that the fire remains for the moment on the south bank of the Churchill River.

We feel better today, even a little more than yesterdayshe said, specifying that the safety of the workers remaining to ensure the proper functioning of the Churchill Falls power station remains the priority.

According to Ms. Williams, worker rotations are planned to allow the teams remaining on site to see their families.

Reinforcements

Wednesday evening, two tanker planes sent by the Society for the Protection of Forests Against Fire (SOPFEU) arrived from Quebec to lend a hand to teams from Labrador who are fighting two fires that threaten Churchill Falls.

The Churchill Falls power plant produces 15% of the electricity consumed in Quebec and 25% of that used in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Two more air tankers, sent by Ontario, arrived Friday afternoon.

According to the Newfoundland and Labrador wildfire officer, Mark Lawlorthere were 10 active fires in Labrador Friday morning.

Control efforts are focused on the most worrying.

The first blaze, located 7 km southwest of the municipality, is still considered not to be under control. The teams, however, managed to slow down its progress on Thursday.

The other is 17 km from the community, along the Trans-Labrador Highway.

On Friday morning, provincial authorities reported that efforts to contain the fires were successful. However, they are monitoring weather conditions that could cause the situation to deteriorate.

Northwest winds of 30 km/h, with gusts of 50 km/h, were forecast in the region, which could complicate the work of crews fighting the fires.

The wind gives oxygen and energy to the fire. Combined with high temperatures and low relative humidity and fuel, these are the perfect conditions for a fireexplains Mr. Lawlor.

The prospect of strong winds also worries the MP for Lake Melville, Perry Trimper. Although the fire remains for the moment on the south bank of the river Churchillthe winds could allow the fire to cross the watercourse.

If the wind changes, moves a little to the west, that’s a problem because the fire could jump across the river, where there is a community and a large hydroelectric planthe specifies.

Contain the fire

When the two air tankers arrive from Ontario, there will be eight aircraft to fight the fires threatening the power plant in Churchill Falls.

According to Mark Lawlortheir mission will be Friday to prevent the fire located 7 km from Churchill Falls to get closer to the municipality.

Teams deployed on the ground are working to attack the hot spots of the fire located along the Trans-Labrador Highway.

A surge of solidarity in Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Radio-Canada was able to observe that many citizens of Happy Valley-Gosse Bay mobilized to help the evacuees of Churchill Falls.

In order to change their minds a little, a free show will be offered to them, Friday evening, at the Lawrence O’Brien Center.

THE Mokami Status of Women Councilwho operates the thrift store Thrifty’salso wanted to do something for the hundreds of people who were forced to leave Churchill Fallsa community located nearly 290 kilometers from Happy Valley-Gosse Bay.

When the Churchill Falls evacuees arrived in our community, it was natural for us to ask how we could helpsays the general director of the organization, Stacey Hoffe.

According to her, Thriftty’s distributed free clothing and various hygiene products to around thirty evacuees.

The owner of the Height of Land Hotelthe only hotel in Churchill Fallsfor its part decided to house around half a dozen of its employees in its residence in Happy Valley-Gosse Bay.

I just want to make sure the people who work for me are taken care of, they are important, my business wouldn’t work without themsaid Carvey Noblewho specifies that he tries, as best he can, not to worry about the prospect that his company could fall prey to the flames. As long as they are comfortable and safe, that’s my only concern.

Rakesh Rangon says he is grateful to his boss for his generosity and hospitality.

My boss Carvey is a very good person. He received us well, we cook and eat together, it’s very goodsays the one who works in the kitchen of Mr. Noble’s hotel. Gosse Bay.”,”text”:”I was at work in the morning, I went home and I saw black smoke, fire. It wasn’t too far and then my boss called me and told me we had to go to Gosse Bay.”}}”>I was at work in the morning, went home and saw black smoke, fire. It wasn’t too far, and then my boss called me and told me we had to go to Gosse Bay.

With information from Héloïse Rodriguez and Patrick Butler