Emergency Alerts

Active: Wildfire in Paddy's Pond Area

The St. John’s Regional Fire Department is responding to a wildfire within the St. John’s jurisdiction and have initiated the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has oversight of the incident and St. John's Regional Fire Department is providing ground support where necessary.

Stay up to date on the wildfires, road closures and evacuation orders on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador website and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Facebook page. This page has been set up to share the latest information and resources.

Further information will be provided as it becomes available. Stay safe, stay informed, and monitor local updates for changes.

Related Evacuation Orders

An evacuation order is in place for industrial area near Paddy's Pond, including Akita Equipment and surrounding buildings and hangars.

An evacuation alert is in place for portions of Paradise and CBS.

Follow the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for the latest updates at gov.nl.ca/alerts.

Air Quality

SJRFD is advising residents that a wildfire near the Paddy’s Pond area is causing drifting smoke into St. John’s and surrounding areas, reducing air quality levels.

Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed and to turn off air exchangers and HVAC units to help reduce indoor smoke exposure. Please contact 811 or see a health-care provider if you experience any concerning symptoms related to smoke exposure such as a severe cough, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and/or wheezing.

Residents are reminded to continue to monitor active air quality statements.

Road Closures

UPDATE (5:35 p.m.) - The Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) has reopened to traffic.

Side roads in the Paddy’s Pond evacuation area remain closed. Fowlers Road is closed at Peacekeepers Way headed southbound towards Paddy’s Pond.

Emergency Preparedness

Get Prepared provides valuable information to help you prepare for an emergency, including property preparation, emergency kits, and more.

Visit Get Prepared

Fire Ban

A Provincial Fire Ban is in place until September 7, which means:

No open fires permitted, including those with a permit
No outdoor wood-burning appliances permitted
Propane appliances and charcoal/propane BBQs are permitted only if the units are not used within 3.5 metres of any trees, brush or other flammable material. Coals used while barbecuing, or as part of any other burning unit, must be extinguished before being safely discarded.
Off-road vehicles must be equipped with a proper screening or baffling device to prevent sparks from escaping. Operators must carry a fire extinguisher with a minimum of 225 grams of ABC-class dry chemical when travelling in grassy or wooded areas.

If you witness unauthorized burning activity, please contact Access St. John’s by calling 311 or (709) 754-CITY (2489), email access@stjohns.ca or submit an inquiry online. If the fire you are reporting poses an immediate safety concern, call 911 immediately.

Residents are reminded to regularly check the Provincial Fire Hazard Map provided by the Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture and follow the associated guidelines to practice fire safety. Learn more about these guidelines on our Fire Prevention webpage.