Bay D'Espoir Highway closed for 2nd day as forest fire continues to burn out of control

Thousands of people on Newfoundland's Connaigre Peninsula remain cut off from the rest of the island Monday morning, after an out-of-control forest fire closed the Bay d'Espoir Highway on Sunday afternoon.

Three water bombers, four helicopters and 14 firefighters are battling the flames near the Northwest Gander River bridge, about 40 kilometres south of the Trans-Canada Highway.

"The highway closure remains a priority for the department, and that would be the Paradise Lake fire and the Bay d'Espoir fire here in relative close proximity," said provincial forest fire duty officer Brian Oak on Monday morning.

Oak said five fires started throughout central Newfoundland after a weather system with lightning moved through the region. Much of the central area has been experiencing dry, hot weather and has been under a heat warning from Environment Canada since Friday, with temperatures in the 30 C range.

"Dry weather has a significant impact on the potential for fire," said Oak.

One of the fires reached the road but burned out upon reaching the pavement, he said, while a second fire jumped the road. 

Harbour Breton Mayor Lloyd Blake says the local hospital is on diversion; there is no doctor on the peninsula, forcing people to travel to Grand Falls-Windsor, more than 220 kilometres away, for medical care.

Blake said he was pleased Central Health quickly flew an advanced-care paramedic into the area after the highway, also known as Route 360, was closed.

"If an emergency arises people would be able to go to the Connaigre health-care centre from all areas in the Coast of Bays, and what they would do, they would take the patient on the ambulance and then there would be an air intercept by the air ambulance crew. Then they would fly them to Grand Falls," said Blake.

In a statement, Central Heath said it's providing a virtual emergency room at the hospital Monday. 

"Due to the evolving situation in the Coast of Bays area, Central Health would ask that only those requiring emergency services present at this time. Air ambulance services will be available to those in need of medical transport," reads the statement.

Blake said he is unaware of any medical flights taking place so far. He said residents are worried about being isolated from the rest of Newfoundland because some have regularly scheduled medical appointments.

"There could be in excess of 10,000 people here yesterday with no doctor," Blake said.

With Come Home Year celebrations happening, he said, there are also many tourists in the area who now cannot leave the peninsula.