Thousands in St. John’s, N.L., under evacuation alert as wildfires threaten urban centres

Thousands of people in Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital city have been alerted to be ready to flee at a moment’s notice as out-of-control wildfires in the province are now threatening urban centres.

Crews are employing water bombers to slow the growth of raging flames in St. John’s, near the Trans-Canada Highway, where at least 20,000 residents are under evacuation alert as of Wednesday.