Home / Disasters and Accidents / Newfoundland Battles Devastating Wildfires for 3 Months in 1961
Newfoundland Battles Devastating Wildfires for 3 Months in 1961
17 Aug
Summary
- Wildfires burned for over 3 months in 1961, destroying millions of acres
- Thousands evacuated as flames threatened homes across Newfoundland
- Firefighting efforts led to permanent improvements in wildfire management
In the summer of 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador is reflecting on a historic wildfire crisis that unfolded 64 years ago. In 1961, the province experienced a prolonged and devastating wildfire season that lasted for over 3 months, burning millions of acres of land.
The dry conditions that year turned Newfoundland's forests and fields into a tinderbox, and by mid-June, there were a dozen major wildfires burning out of control. One of the most destructive blazes was in Bonavista North, which first sparked on June 12 and eventually grew to cover over 200,000 hectares.
Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes as the flames threatened communities across the province. In Hare Bay, hundreds of women and children had to take shelter on schooners offshore to escape the advancing fire. In Lumsden, the entire town banded together to build a firebreak and save their homes from the destruction.
The scale of the 1961 wildfire crisis revealed significant gaps in Newfoundland's firefighting capabilities at the time. In response, the provincial government took decisive action, purchasing new firefighting aircraft and establishing a network of weather stations to better monitor hazardous conditions.
The 1961 wildfires left an indelible mark on the people of Newfoundland, with those who lived through the ordeal never forgetting the devastation. While the province has faced other major wildfire seasons since then, the lessons learned in 1961 continue to shape Newfoundland's approach to managing these natural disasters.
