Wildfire Update – August 20, 2025
Cooler temperatures along with steady rain, drizzle and fog are providing another good day for firefighting across all three active wildfires. The only drawback this morning has been a low ceiling at the Kingston fire, which has delayed air tanker and heavy helicopter support until the fog lifts and conditions improve. In aviation terms, a low ceiling means the cloud base is sitting too close to the ground, reducing visibility for pilots and making it unsafe for aircraft to operate in the area.
Kingston Fire
The Kingston wildfire picked up 12 mm of rain in the north and about 2 mm in the south overnight. Combined with cooler air and high humidity, conditions are about as good as it gets for ground crews.
There’s been no change in fire behaviour and no growth overnight. An operational assessment this morning shows steady improvement on the fire. Once the fog clears, northwest winds will help air support target the western edge and southwest corner of the blaze. On the ground, crews are focused on the northern boundary while military and local volunteer firefighters continue clearing hot spots and providing structure protection around nearby communities. In the south, ground teams are digging into stubborn hot spots.
Paddy’s Pond Fire
The Paddy’s Pond wildfire has now been classified as “Being Held.” Containment lines are holding, with no growth overnight. Ground crews from British Columbia are on site today working to complete containment and knock down remaining hot spots. No air tanker support has been requested.
Martin Lake Fire
At Martin Lake, two days of rain and cooler weather have helped slow things down significantly, although the fire remains active. Ground crews are continuing hot spot work across the fire area, but no air tanker support is planned today.
Thank you firefighters and volunteers for everything you have done , it’s the unknown that makes people on edge and at times lash out with words , it’s a scary feeling not knowing if your home is gone or still standing, and when you find out it is still standing but your neighbours who you grew up with their home is gone mix emotions and sadness all roll into one. We stand together and hold fast , and be thankful no precious human life was loss in this fire , but we do morn the lost of wildlife and the beauty each town did hold . But we stand strong and will rebuild one home at a time one community at a time, for we are Newfoundland and Labrador we stand together, I know hollow words right now raw emotion for families who lost everything, but one thing you have not lost is your loving 🥰 family or friends the people make a community stand together they will rebuild , Kingston sign still stands a powerful message standing strong of survival and not to give up on this community and the families who live there 💔❤️🩹
Thanks for the update
God bless all those brave men and women fighting these wildfires. Stay safe everyone!
Thanks Eddie for wildfire update