Cappahayden, Grates Cove fires under control but fire index a concern

Forestry crews and equipmentare working around the clock to deal with three active fires in Newfoundland and Labrador, and an alarming fire index.

"People need to be careful," said Jeff Motty, a provincial duty officer with the Department of Fisheries and Land resources.

Mottysaid the fire risk in most of the province is listed as moderate to high, with Gander showing as extreme, because of hot weather and high winds.

He said crews are working around the clock andmaking a "phenomenal effort," with the latest fire burning Monday in a residential area of St. John's.

• Kenmount Terrace residents allowed home after forest fire threatens neighbourhood

Mottysaid fires near Grates Cove, on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula and near Cappahayden, on the Southern Shore of the peninsula, were listed as under control.

A helicopter and water bomber were at the Cappahayden fire, which was listed as 50 per cent out, with crews concentrating on a cabin area.

Motty estimated the fire there had burned over 60 hectares.

The fire that started Friday near Grates Cove and Daniel's Cove is under control, and 75 per cent out, Mottytold CBC Radio's On The Go Monday.

A total of 257 hectares had burned, and crews were concentrating Monday on dousing hotspots.

Those two fires are taxing equipment, Mottysaid, because crews are scooping salt water to douse the flames and that means more maintenance.

Returning to normal

Courtney Howell, who along with her husband operates Grates Cove Studios and rental accommodations for tourists, says it was tough to lose business at the height of summer.

But safety was the main concern, she told the St. John's Morning Show. She saideverything was back to normal Sunday.

Howell said other tourist operators helped her guests find alternate rooms and some "amazing" residents even offered up their homes in the area, at the northern-most tip of the Avalon Peninsula.

"I was concerned on Friday, because the community was starting to fill with black smoke," she said. "It's a big lesson, for sure, about just being prepared."

Growing up in Louisiana, Howell said she is used to evacuating because of hurricanes.

"I had all of my insurance policies in email, so that was great, and Ikeep a file with all our important information, our passports, our birth documents," she said.

"Wegrabbed our cats we had a truckfulof cats which was very interesting."

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