The provincial government issued a statement Sunday on three major wildfires, saying they held steady or showed minimal growth overnight.

Kingston

The Kingston wildfire saw minimal growth overnight due to a drop in temperature and low winds. The wildfire is still very active and is approximately 9,519 hectares in size (boundary size may be adjusted in the coming days as smoke clears and mapping is refined). Today’s weather conditions, cooler temperatures and light winds will provide crews with a strong opportunity for suppression efforts.

Aerial and ground crews will tackle the wildfire at both the northern and southern edges.

Similar to yesterday’s plan of attack, seven water bombers will work a series of steady missions at the southern edge. The sprinkler line is still in place at Perry’s Cove and the fuel break is providing containment.

In the north, four heavy-capacity helicopters will work the fire’s edge (one S-61, one Super Puma, two Black Hawks). Ground crews and local fire departments will continue work inside the communities, with aerial support provided by light-capacity bucketing helicopters. The fuel break in the north is complete and over 4 km in length.

The Canadian Armed Forces and local crews will continue their work scanning and suppressing hot spots.

Paddy’s Pond

The wildfire in Paddy’s Pond has been holding steady thanks to heavy suppression efforts provided by ground crews, the St. John’s Regional Fire Department, the Canadian Armed Forces and 20 firefighters from British Columbia. Today they will continue working hot spots to further contain the fire.

Martin Lake

The Martin Lake wildfire had minimal growth overnight, however, it is still an active fire. The size has been revised to approximately 1,770 hectares thanks to reduced smoke and refined mapping. Today, four water bombers, a bird bog, and bucketing helicopters will continue with air suppression. Cooler temperatures and light winds will allow ground crews to continue working the southwest, as well as focus on structure protection around the Rushy Pond cabin area.