Weather created an 'extremely aggressive inferno' near Labrador City
The wildfire near Labrador City is still posing challenges on Saturday 9,600 residents continue to evacuate.
In an update Saturday afternoon, Premier Andrew Furey said the fire is about six kilometres northwest of the community and about one kilometre from the landfill.
Stay informed with the latest wildfire news and information at The Weather Network's wildfire hub page.
"It was basically deemed fully under control, if not fully out, on Monday and Tuesday this week. Essentially, yesterday morning it started to smoulder a bit and gain some momentum," Furey told reporters during a virtual news conference in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
"Around mid-day the weather conditions changed with what is the perfect fire condition, if you will, for spread."
The fire had spread from what was 600 hectares and "fairly controlled" to over 10,000 hectares.
It moved 21 kilometres in just four hours, Furey said.
"Just an extremely aggressive inferno just outside of Labrador City and led to a very quickly and rapidly changing situation for the residents," he said.
Crews are fighting the fire on two fronts on Saturday. Three water bombers from Newfoundland and Labrador are fighting it from the east and water bombers from Quebec fighting it from the west.
Furey said requests for assistance have been made to other provinces and the federal government for help in taming the fire.
Furey said the forecast is favourable enough to keep residents of nearby Wabush on stand by but still ready to evacuate.
Gasoline supply is an issue as thousands of resident had to fill up on the road to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Furey said government is aware and looking to secure alternative sources.
Furey also issued a fire ban for the entire province.
Hospital evacuated
The Labrador West Health Centre in Labrador City fully evacuated patients overnight and emergency services are closed until further notice.
The hospital and walk-in emergency services will remain closed until it is safe to fully reopen, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services wrote in a news release Saturday morning.
Ambulances remain on stand by in case of emergencies.
NLHS media relations manager Mikaela Etchegary told CBC News patients were transferred to other health care facilities in the province, with the majority diverting to the Labrador Health Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Roughly 1,500 people checked in at the E J Broomfield Arena in Happy Valley-Goose Bay since the evacuation order was issued. Thousands more are expected to arrive throughout Saturday.
Labrador City evacuated Friday night due to a nearby wildfire while Wabush remains on alert Saturday. (Darryl Dinn/CBC)
Meanwhile, residents of Wabush are waiting with their bags packed since getting a possible evacuation notice Friday night.
Mayor Ron Barron told CBC News the provincial fire service is bringing in more resources to battle the fire on Saturday morning.
But, he said, those resources should have been there much earlier.
"This fire started last week," Barron said. "I think more attention should have been paid to it at that time rather than where it's catching us now and biting us in the you know what."
Barron wants Wabush residents to stay calm, vigilant and patient.
He said as soon as he learns more information, he will notify residents.
In the meantime, he said, people should stay in close communications with friends, family and neighbours in case the town has to evacuate.
Churchill Falls steps in to help
Lisa Parmiter was at her brewery in Labrador City listening to the news when she heard about the evacuation alert.
She immediately closed the bar and dashed home to start packing, she said.
Some of her belongings were already packed since the previous fire a few weeks ago in Churchill Falls. That was her first stop for gas.
Outside it was a dark haze, she said. White cars had an amber tint to them.
"It's a pretty lengthy lineup," said Parmiter. " I finally get to the gas station, and this guy starts pumping my gas."
It wasn't a worker — but a volunteer.
Besides the three workers at the gas station, there were seven other people volunteering, helping to speed up the line.
The man told her that when Churchill Falls residents faced a similar evacuation just weeks ago, they received plenty of help — and it was their turn to give back.
"It's the Labrador way," Parmiter said. "It's who we are. We just take care of each other."
She said it took her 12 hours to reach Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Capacity to shelter thousands
Perry Trimper, Liberal MHA for Lake Melville, and his team are helping to accommodate the people arriving to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. He says there is enough capacity to shelter over 9,500 people.
"Beds, shelters, meals, all of those types of logistics — we are definitely ready," he told CBC news on Saturday.
So far, 1,400 people registered for accommodations on Friday night and he expects thousands more to come.
Although the team of workers and volunteers in Happy Valley-Goose Bay are organized and calm in the midst of chaos, he said there are some challenges.
(Dozens of cars from Labrador City were lined up outside of Churchill Falls Friday night to get gas before continuing east to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. (Submitted by Larry Flemming)
From gas running low — with reports that the gas station in Churchill Falls has rundry — to misinformation online about capacity, Trimper assures there is enough in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
However, there is a challenge to shelter people with their pets.
Trimper said SPCA is full. He's encouraging anyone who can afford to house people and their pets to do so.
"I saw people just a few hours ago crying when they knew that they weren't going to have to be separated from their pets," he said, adding other residents have approached complete strangers offering to help.
"I'm quite proud to live here."
WATCH: It's wildfire season, pack your 'grab-and-go' box with these items
This article, written by Arlette Lazarenko, was originally published for CBC News. It contains files from Heidi Atter.
