Weather News

LABRADOR CITY, N.L. — A senior fire official in the Newfoundland and Labrador government said Monday he hopes rain will intensify and help firefighters contain a wildfire that has forced the evacuation of Labrador City.

Outside help is arriving to battle British Columbia wildfires that authorities expect to flare this week, with Australian and New Zealand firefighters on the way and crews and aircraft from other provinces already on the ground.

PLAINFIELD, Vt. (AP) — Vermont is seeking an assessment to determine whether last week’s flooding , which damaged homes, knocked down bridges and washed out roads, qualifies for a federal disaster declaration and aid.

MONTREAL — Wildfires burning near Labrador City, N.L. have prompted mining companies in the area to temporarily halt operations. Over the weekend, Montreal-based Champion Iron Ltd. and Toronto-based Iron Ore Co.

HORSESHOE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Before Hurricane Idalia smashed into a small fishing village in northwestern Florida, Charles Long, 68, was fixing up a two-bedroom house for him and his wife.

The B.C. Wildfire Service says a new wildfire discovered near Smithers this weekend was quickly snuffed out with the help of a pair of helicopters.

LABRADOR CITY, N.L. — A change in wind direction, cooler temperatures and possible precipitation made for favourable conditions for attacking the wildfire threatening Labrador City, the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador said Sunday.

FERMONT, QUE. — Authorities in the northern Quebec town of Fermont have lifted an evacuation pre-alert as the risk from a forest fire on the other side of the provincial boundary with Newfoundland and Labrador has subsided.

At least five new wildfires were ignited by lightning in British Columbia since Friday, and combined with roughly a dozen other new blazes, the total number burning across the province now stands at more than 150.

WOLFVILLE, N.S.