Forest fires ravage Mount Scio
Volunteers rushed to help staff at Rainbow Riders stable Tuesday as a forest fire burned over the hill behind the Health Sciences Centre.
Stable staff and volunteers had quickly assembled a plan after the St. John’s Regional Fire Department said they would have to evacuate as a precaution.
But as a provincial Department of Natural Resources water bomber and a helicopter with a water bucket passed over several times, the horses — mostly calm, but at times spooked by the activity and large crowd — were placed in horse trailers, ready to leave if necessary.
Around 3 p.m., with the imminent danger over, the 15 horses were expected to remain safely at the stables instead of being distributed to waiting metro-area stables that had quickly stepped up to take them.
Their food and medications were all speedily organized as part of the plan.
The blaze behind the Health Sciences Centre had been noticed by a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer passing the area, said St. John’s Deputy Chief Robert Fowler. There was another small fire burning in that area — near the Elaine Dobbin Centre for Autism — in addition to the one down the hill from the Rainbow Riders stables.
The smoke and flames could be seen all over the city, and even with the fires under control later in the afternoon, the Prince Philip Parkway was in rush-hour gridlock as Mount Scio Road was closed into the evening.
“When (firefighters) arrived on scene, they were met with a lot of heavy, black smoke in around the back of the Health Sciences Centre and back of the Autism Society,” Fowler said, adding the hospital was not affected.
“Our fire crews are working very hard down in the woods to keep the fires at bay. Luck is on our side today in regards to the Health Sciences Centre.”
Fowler said when forestry air equipment passes were complete, firefighters and forestry crews would continue to monitor the fire sites on foot.
Meanwhile, during the evacuation phase, bags of carrots and bridles were assembled outside the stables for the horses, and some whinnied loudly as they were led to the trailers from an outside corral.
People on the property were asked to go inside the barn so the horses would be less spooked.
Adon Boland, 13, was worried about sparks reigniting the blaze or the wind shifting, but his mom, Jen, comforted him, noting all the firefighters on hand to keep the situation under control.
Just moments before, they’d noticed ashes blowing around outside the rear barn door.
Adon rides at the stables and his sister, Byranna, is a volunteer.
Jen Boland said she was picking up a new water heater when she smelled smoke and thought someone had a backyard fire going.
But when they got home, they heard about the forest fires and rushed to help.
“It’s an amazing, amazing organization. You’d never find a place as good,” Boland said.
Executive director Kelly Sandoval said six of the horses are privately owned and the rest are part of the non-profit group’s therapeutic programs. There were no lessons scheduled Tuesday afternoon.
Sandoval said she first got a call warning of the fire from staff at the the Elaine Dobbin Centre for Autism, as that facility was being evacuated.
From there, stables around the city, volunteers and staff all pulled together, Sandoval said. “It’s been amazing,” she said. “Oh my gosh … we certainly weren’t expecting this turn of events.”
Mount Scio was very hazy and for a while was impassible as smoke lingered over the road heading east.
A pair of barn cats were also rescued in a cage and placed in a car for safekeeping.
Remnants of smoke were still visible in the area by the autism centre at supper hour.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary had closed Mount Scio Road as a precaution and asked people to stay off the trails.
The RNC said the fires started around 1 p.m. and police were looking for information from anybody who noticed anything.
The RNC asks anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers.