ST. JOHN’S – Dozens of people grappling with the aftermath of devastating fires in eastern Newfoundland packed a community hall Wednesday night to share their grief, fear and frustration and take a collective step toward recovery.
The meeting was organized by residents of the fire-ravaged towns in Conception Bay North that don’t have municipal councils. Newfoundland and Labrador has many unincorporated communities without mayors or councillors.
Wednesday’s meeting was sometimes heated as residents argued over how they would be best represented in restoration efforts led by the provincial government.
“We need to come together and figure out a way forward,” said moderator Betty Mullaly-Moulton, adding, “If you’re not here to support people, please leave.”
Some cried as they told the room they’d lost everything in the fires, including their community. A man who lost his home said he and his wife were renting a place far away, on the other side of the Bay de Verde peninsula.
“We’d love to have a place to rent here,” he said, his voice breaking. “Please, if anybody knows a place for rent, let us know.”
Several wildfires broke out this summer along the western shore of Conception Bay, an area known as Conception Bay North or the north shore. In May, a fire near Adam’s Cove destroyed about a dozen homes. In August, a fire by Kingston demolished nearly 200 homes and structures in eight communities along a 15-kilometre stretch of coastline.
The Kingston blaze turned vast stretches of the landscape black, and left behind piled of ash and rubble where houses once stood.
Looking at the devastation every day, said Mullaly-Moulton, “is not good for your soul.”
People who lost homes are living in hotels or in rentals, the meeting heard. Some said they didn’t know what would happen to them if emergency financial help from the provincial government dried up.
North shore residents said it was difficult to get any information about help available, or even about whether their water was safe to drink. Some said they didn’t know where money raised by the Red Cross was going. Others felt abandoned by the Liberal provincial government, especially with the legislature dissolved for an election on Oct. 14.
“We’re in caretaker mode right now, so the members of the House of Assembly and the ministers and the premier … can’t make decisions, they can’t pass policies, they can’t pass funding,” said Danielle Doyle, the Liberal candidate for the district.
“We have no idea what’s going to take place after Oct. 14. But I think what’s important is to remember is that we all have to work together.”
Tracy Shute lives in Ochre Pit Cove, where she owns the Red Ochre Cafe. She told the town meeting that she has been staying in nearby Harbour Grace and just wants to be home.
“We’re still not home, seven weeks later. The café is closed, we have 10 people unemployed,” she said as she began to cry. “It’s really difficult. The café is missed. It’s something that we’ve worked very hard for.”
The attendees ultimately chose four people — one from each unincorporated community — to be part of a recovery committee with four other people from the amalgamated municipality of Small Point-Adam’s Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove. The committee will work with the provincial government.
They also agreed on priority areas including housing, safety and remediation.
“We all have to come together as one,” said a man in the crowd. “North shore strong!”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2025.
