Labrador City evacuation partially lifted

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey has announced that the evacuation of Labrador City is being partially lifted.

The wildfire threatening the community is not entirely out but it is now considered under control.

The evacuation order, issued over a week ago, uprooted almost 10,000 people from the community, sending many on the 500-kilometre trek to Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

The fire also left residents of nearby Wabush in a holding pattern, wondering if they were next and scrambling to stock up on gas and food.

Furey says fire suppression efforts will continue, but a variety of factors have put the province in a good position to lift the evacuation order.

"But looking towardthe predictive modelling and the weather patterns that are coming that it is safe to say that the probability of risk to the town of Lab City and Wabush is very low."

Furey says firefighters remain on the ground, monitoringhot spots. The fireremains at a Category 1 level, with still some work left to make sure it's fully out.

Fire ban lifted for island

A provincial fire ban has been lifted in Newfoundland but remains in effect for Labrador, which still has nine active wildfires.

No full return until Monday

Over the next 48 hours, essential personnel and their families are being invited to return to Labrador City, but that's it for the time being.

Furey says it's "just common sense".

"We will be starting with, as you could predict, health-care workers, goods and services and then everybody to support those who are returning," says Furey.

"In order to establish a community size of Lab City, we need to make sure that the hospital is up and running and that we can really look after people, should they get sick."

Until noon Monday, only health-care workers, grocery store workers, essential town staff and essential Iron Ore Company of Canada employees are permitted back in the town.

WATCH | Premier Andrew Furey outlines who can return to Labrador City:

Fire threatening Labrador City under control, allowing partial return of residents

3 months ago

Duration 1:45

At a news conference Saturday in Labrador City, Premier Andrew Furey said weather conditions and firefighting efforts have brought the fire near the town under control. While essential workers can return over the next 48 hours, Furey has asked everyone else to be patient.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is conducting checkpoints along Route 500 of theTrans-Labrador Highway to ensureonly essential workers are returning.

Policeadvised essential workers to be prepared to present employer identification whiletravelling.

"All other drivers will be turned around," the RNC said on Facebook and X, formerly Twitter. Anyone wondering if their employer has deemed them an essential worker can call 709-729-3830 or 1-833-845-0775. The lines will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

After health-care workers return, said Furey, the next priority is for the return of patients.

He anticipates a full lift of the evacuation order by noon Monday.

"We just hope that as patient as people have been, and they have been incredibly patientdespite the stress and anxiety, that they continue to just give us another two days and then things will things will get back to being being normal."

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