There was only one gas station for people fleeing a wildfire near Labrador City on Friday. Employees at Strickland’s Auto and Gas in Churchill Falls pulled an all-nighter to keep it open.
Co-owner Cindy Michelin said Saturday morning one of her employees was heading home after working 17 hours to make sure everyone heading to Happy Valley-Goose Bay for shelter had enough fuel to make the trip.
Residents of Labrador City were ordered to evacuate Friday night after a day of what forestry officials called “extreme fire behavior.”
They said there was a risk the out-of-control wildfire west of Labrador City, near the Quebec border, could continue to spread toward the small town of about 7,500 people in the coming days.
The Town of Labrador City has ordered residents to head east to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, a six-hour drive away along a remote two-lane highway that cuts through the region’s southern wilderness.
Social media posts show people arriving in Happy Valley-Goose Bay Saturday morning after waiting in line for hours to get to Churchill Falls in central Labrador, which is the only place to refuel along the way.
Churchill Falls was evacuated due to wildfires last month. According to Mme Michelin employees were happy to help the citizens of Labrador City because they know very well what they are going through.
Volunteers even worked through the night to help direct traffic in and out of the gas station.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey is expected to provide an update on the situation later today.