Evacuation alerts, state of emergency lifted near St. John’s as crews contain wildfire

Newfoundland officials lifted evacuation alerts for the communities close to the capital of St. John’s on the weekend as cool weather helped crews contain one of several out-of-control wildfires in the province.

The wildfire at Paddy’s Pond, about 15 kilometres southwest of the city’s downtown core, had about 20,000 people on evacuation alert. The provincial government said in a news release on Sunday that crews were holding the fire “steady” and containing any hotspots.