The City of St. John’s and the Provincial Government are providing an update on the ongoing response to serious public safety concerns at Cochrane Pond Park.

Cochrane Pond Park is located on Crown land and was previously run by a private operator under a licence agreement for many years. The Provincial Government terminated the Licence to Occupy in November 2025.

In April 2025, the City of St. John’s issued an Order to Vacate the property due to ongoing and serious life safety concerns that posed a threat to occupants, visitors, emergency responders and the surrounding environment. The operator was provided opportunities to address the identified deficiencies; however, the required corrective actions were not completed and significant safety concerns remained. This led the City to initiate court proceedings to address alleged violations of municipal by-laws and the Fire Code. As these matters are currently before the courts, the City is unable to comment further on those proceedings.

Since that time, safety concerns at the property have continued. The St. John’s Regional Fire Department has responded to numerous incidents within the park, including eight fires since June 20, 2026. Recent events have required a coordinated response involving multiple agencies to protect public safety and support ongoing enforcement and investigative activities.

Due to the nature of ongoing operations, investigations and enforcement activities, there are details that cannot be shared with the public at this time. Further information will be provided when we are confident it will not impede response efforts.

We can confirm that the RNC has increased patrols in the area and will work with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department and the Resource Enforcement Division of the Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands to address any concerns while a comprehensive response plan is executed.

Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity is encouraged to report it directly to the RNC by calling 709-729-8000 or Resource Enforcement Division online at stoppoaching.ca or by calling 1-877-820-0999. Crimes in progress should be reported by calling 911. 

Wildfire prevention protocols are outlined in the Forestry Act and Regulations regarding open fires during the fire season in Newfoundland and Labrador. The amended Forestry Act outlines new offences, and increased penalties are a significant deterrent to illegal fire. More information can be found at: https://www.gov.nl.ca/fal/wildfiremanagement/

We also want to reiterate that Cochrane Pond Park remains closed to the public. Residents are reminded that entering the property is prohibited and may place individuals at risk, interfere with ongoing operations, or impede emergency responders from safely accessing and responding to incidents within the park.

The safety of residents, visitors and emergency responders remains our highest priority. We thank you for your patience while we continue to navigate this complex situation.