North Shore fire chief grateful for all the help

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Most people in the province are aware of the fire that raged along the North Shore of Conception Bay during the month of August. Starting in Kingston, the fire spread through communities and displaced many people. While the fire is now over, the ordeal is still fresh in the minds of both citizens and those in the fire service, including Roger Gillingham, chief of the North Shore Volunteer Fire Department.

Gillingham has been with the department since 1987 and has served as its chief for over 20 years. While the areas it covers may not be densely populated, the department serves 10 communities totalling approximately 1,100 households scattered over a large area. The department has 30 members, over 20 of which are very active. 

“For rural Newfoundland we’re pretty lucky, actually,” said Gillingham. “We’ve got a good number on our roster, for sure.”

The big Kingston fire – which covered so much more ground than Kingston itself – was so big and got so much attention in August and September that it was easy to forget that for Gillingham and his volunteers, it was the second major wildfire they battled this year. In May, the department fought a fire in Adam’s Cove that covered 1,600 hectares and destroyed 40 structures, including 12 homes. Many considered that a large fire, with no idea of what was to come in August. 

The Kingston fire, so named for the community it started in, was over 10,000 hectares in size. From August 3 to August 29 someone from the department was on the ground at the fire 24/7. “It was extremely difficult to see the destruction,” said Gillingham. “You’re seeing it every day. You’re seeing people’s homes and properties getting destroyed. You’re seeing your landscape changing. I mean, I grew up in Ochre Pit Cove. It takes a physical and psychological toll on everybody involved.” 

The fire was the largest Gillingham had ever fought, and he believes it was one of the biggest disasters in Newfoundland’s history. From Kingston to Northern Bay, some 700 structures were lost in the Kingston fire, approximately 200 of which were homes. Ten of the department’s firefighters lost property in the fire, six of them their homes. The environmental damage from the Kingston fire is substantial, as well. Gillingham said there is burn damage from Perry’s Cove to Northern Bay. 

“It’s pretty devastating and disheartening and upsetting,” Gillingham said. “I don’t know how many words you can use to describe it as you drive down the shore, and you see all that.”

Following the Adam’s Cove fire in May, a fund was started with the aim of supporting firefighting capacity and equipment on the North Shore. Over $68,000 was raised. 

“Folks in the area were extremely, extremely generous and supportive,” said Gillingham. 

The department’s plan was to replace any equipment that had been damaged in the fire and to purchase other equipment that would be beneficial in the case of brush fires and other wildland fires. There were also plans to update some of the firefighters’ personal bunker gear and self-contained breathing apparatuses. Before they were able to do all that, the Kingston fire erupted. 

“But it’ll be an amazing help for us now to purchase some new equipment that will be good for not only structure fires, but also for the brush and wildland fires,” said Gillingham. 

The focus of the North Shore Fires Recovery Fund has now shifted to focus on supporting those who lost their homes. 

“We understand the importance of doing that and have no issue with it,” Gillingham said. “We still have a lot of people who are still wanting to donate to us to support our cause which is great and we’re graciously accepting any donations that come in.”

Gillingham expressed gratitude to the other fire departments that helped with the Kingston fire. Not only did the North Shore brigade contact many other departments for help, but some others asked to assist. Firefighters came even from distant communities, such as Deer Lake, Gander, Grand-Falls Windsor —including people from Labrador who happened to be on the island at the time. 

“We had people calling us saying, ‘Can we come and help?’” said Gillingham. “I just want to give that shoutout to all the departments that came, whether we called them out or they volunteered themselves to come and help us out, just to let them know how much we appreciate that… Those events, as sad as they can be, they usually do bring out the best in all of our communities.”