Wind, humidity slowing growth of fire that forced hundreds from homes in Newfoundland

ST. JOHN’S – A fire that forced hundreds of people to evacuate Musgrave Harbour, N.L., remained about two kilometres from the town on Monday, but officials said less wind and more humidity was slowing its growth.

The weather forecast for the area along Newfoundland’s northeastern coast also called for rain until Tuesday, the province’s Department of Justice and Public Safety said. The fire wasn’t expected to inch closer to the town, but the evacuation order remained in place, the department said.

The blaze began Saturday and grew quickly, forcing officials to order everyone in Musgrave Harbour out of their homes on Sunday. People were told to head southwest to Gander, N.L., a much bigger town with a population of about 11,800 about an hour’s drive along a rural two-lane highway.

As of Monday morning, the fire encompassed an area of about 18 square kilometres. Water bombers, helicopters and a Bird Dog plane were attempting to douse the flames from the air.

Musgrave Harbour is home to some 950 people, and they were asked to register at a reception centre in Gander.

Krystle West has opened the doors of her Gander business to Musgrave Harbour families with kids. The owner and operator of Xheight Zone, an indoor playground and trampoline park, said parents can drop off their children for free while they make plans and run errands as they wait to go home.

“It’s all free for them,” West said in an interview. “These are people that come and support us all year round, too … we just give back when we can.”

West said she had about 20 children from Musgrave Harbour at her facility on Sunday. On Monday night, she was offering a free pizza party for evacuated families. It helps the children feel less anxious, West said.

“They’re chatty and curious, but for the most part, they seem to be OK,” she said. “It’s worrisome, for sure. You can hear them chat a little bit, but I think they’re being really good sports.”

About 100 km southeast of the Musgrave Harbour fire, another 18-square-kilometre fire burned in the Chance Harbour area. The southern end of the Chance Harbour fire was about five km from two neighbouring communities — Winter Brook and Jamestown — as of Sunday evening.

The northern end of the fire has destroyed several cabins along the coast.

Residents are staying up to date in a Facebook group for the area, which is not an incorporated town but a local service district. Such districts don’t have mayors or town councils, but they have clerks who help keep basic services running.

Clerk Annie Harris summed up the general feeling in the area with a short post on Sunday evening: “Rain. Yay!!!”

The Chance Harbour fire is the second this year to destroy structures in Newfoundland. In May, a wildfire around Adam’s Cove along Conception Bay destroyed about a dozen homes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025.

Note to readers:This is an updated story with a corrected video. An earlier version contained a video with an incorrect on-screen placeline.