Home / Disasters and Accidents / Newfoundland Residents Brace for Devastating Wildfires, Fearing "Whole Shore Will Be Wiped Out"
Newfoundland Residents Brace for Devastating Wildfires, Fearing "Whole Shore Will Be Wiped Out"
8 Aug
Summary
- Residents of Northern Bay, Newfoundland worried the "whole shore will be wiped out" by the Kingston wildfire
- Evacuation orders in place for several communities, with others on alert as fire crews battle the blaze
- Residents resisting fire bans, leading to intentionally set bonfires and investigations into suspected arson
As of August 9th, 2025, a major wildfire burning near Kingston in Conception Bay North, Newfoundland has residents of the surrounding communities deeply worried about the area's future. Northern Bay resident Eugene Howell expressed that "a lot of people are feeling that it's gonna get even more severe and the whole shore is gonna be wiped out."
The Kingston fire, currently Newfoundland and Labrador's largest active blaze, has already prompted evacuation orders for several towns, including Kingston, Perry's Cove, Western Bay, and Small Point-Adam's Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove, Ochre Pit Cove, and Salmon Cove. The town of Victoria is also on evacuation alert as fire crews work to build a firebreak to slow the fire's southern advance.
Residents like Howell have packed their bags, ready to evacuate at a moment's notice. The area has been blanketed in heavy smoke, causing anxiety among locals. Some have even taken to clearing trails of glass and debris to prevent potential ignition sources.
Tragically, the wildfires have already devastated parts of the region, with the previous Adam's Cove fire in May destroying 12 homes and 45 structures. Authorities are investigating a number of suspected arson cases, as locals have expressed resistance to the province-wide fire ban, with several intentionally set bonfires reported.
In response, the Newfoundland and Labrador government has drastically increased fines and prison sentences for fire ban violations, with penalties now ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 and up to a year in jail. As the Kingston fire continues to burn, residents of Conception Bay North remain on high alert, fearing the worst is yet to come.
