A fire engulfed a fishing stage in the Quidi Vidi neighbourhood of St. John’s on Tuesday night. (Submitted by Mike Hall)
A fire broke out in the historic St. John’s neighbourhood of Quidi Vidi Village late Tuesday night, but because of its location a platoon chief with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department says all firefighters could do was watch it burn and hope it wouldn’t spread.
Platoon Chief Mike Hall told CBC News people in Quidi Vidi noticed smoke coming from behind a fish stage around 11:30 p.m. NT, and realizing it was a fire they called the fire department and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
However, he said, firefighters found they weren’t able to actually fight the fire since there is no road access.
“We couldn’t get trucks there, which is certainly frustrating for our fire department when you can’t make a response,” he told CBC Radio’s The St. John’s Morning Show on Wednesday morning.
“There’s no way to get access with hose lines because it’s on the other side of the water.”
At that point it became a “controlled burn” and the fire consumed two fishing stages and wharf structures, said Hall.
As of Wednesday morning, Hall said, the fire is “smouldering ashes.”
More damage could have been done if it weren’t for the actions of some locals.
Platoon Chief Mike Hall says locals jumped into a boat and were able to save a structure that was burning. (Submitted by Mike Hall)
Hall said the fire was encroaching on a third structure, and some residents jumped in a boat and went across the harbour with buckets and a hose connected to the boat’s pump to fight the blaze.
“They doused the flames that were encroaching on their fishing stage and they actually put it out. So they saved their own building. It certainly would have been consumed if not through their efforts,” said Hall.
He said his main concern was when the fire began to burn up the side of a hill, and was worried it could reach the East White Hills area and burn through it to the dry, wooded areas and potentially reach the RCMP detachment building.
“So really some cautious, tense moments for the firefighters and police,” said Hall. “We basically watched it and crossed our fingers.”
Hall said he called the forestry division manager, but was told they couldn’t respond until daylight if they needed water bombers or helicopters.
He said he understands people were frustrated with their inability to respond to the fire, but no injuries have been reported.
The fire started just a few hours after the provincial government announced it was lifting the provincewide fire ban.
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