Churchill Falls residents on edge over forest fire after town makes hasty evacuation

By Elizabeth Whitten
CBC News
June 20, 2024
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

NEWFOUNDLAND — Hundreds of people who fled in a hurry from the power-generating town of Churchill Falls in central Labrador have found refuge in towns far away, and are now waiting to see if a fire just on the outskirts of their home will prove disastrous. On Wednesday night, forestry officials ordered the hasty evacuation of Churchill Falls, a company town that exists to keep Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro’s generating station running. The massive hydroelectric plant provides power to the province and about 15 percent of neighbouring Quebec’s power. …Provincial forest fire duty officer Bryan Oke told CBC Radio’s Labrador Morning Thursday that the fire — according to the latest available report — was just three to four kilometres south of Churchill Falls. The fire, though, had not jumped the south of the Churchill River. He said ge is hoping the geography will help firefighters with their efforts.

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