Hydro to release water at Churchill Falls as forest fire threatens Labrador town

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is releasing water at its Churchill Falls power plant as a precautionary measure, should the Crown corporation need to remove even more staff from an evacuated community already under serious fire threat. 

Hydro is reducing energy loads in case it must order further evacuations. The release of water will also help beleaguered crews who face another hot, rainless day while trying to control a fire that — although on the other side of the Churchill River — is just a few kilometres away from the town and the power plant.  

On Monday night, the Crown corporation announced it was doing a controlled water release from the upper Churchill reservoir at the Jacopie Spillway for an unknown amount of time.

In the event the plant goes to remote operations, not as much water will go through the turbines. Spilling water prevents water in the reservoir from rising too high.

The statement said water management is a part of protecting the plant’s assets.

“In response to the most recent information provided by fire officials, we have begun to reduce loads this evening, which requires spilling,” spokesperson Jill Pitcher told CBC News in a later email.

“This is a precautionary measure to aid the team in the event we move to remote operation. We do have the capability to operate the gates remotely as well.”

Last Wednesday, forestry officials ordered a hasty evacuation of Churchill Falls, a company town that exists to keep Hydro’s Upper Churchill generating station running. While approximately 750 people left the community, a skeleton crew stayed behind to operate the plant.

Pitcher said Hydro plans to release more information on Tuesday.

As of Tuesday morning, current Churchill Falls generation is at 1,462 megawatts, according to Hydro’s website. Earlier this week, that rate was 3,000 megawatts.

As a safety measure, the N.L. Hydro statement advised people to avoid the Jacopie and Whitefish spillways, the Churchill River bed downstream of the spillway, the Churchill River walking trail, as well as the east and west forebay water storage areas north of the town.

It added that Tuesday will be a “critical” day to fight the out-of-control fire that is on the doorstep of one of North America’s largest power plants. 

Provincial forest fire duty officer Mark Lawlor said Tuesday that pumping additional water into the river valley will help firefighting efforts because it increases the humidity.

“Any moisture in the area is a help,” he told CBC News.

The additional water would also increase the width of the river, thereby covering fuel that the fire could feed on, Lawlor added.

Fire status unchanged

According to the Newfoundland and Labrador government’s active fire dashboard, there are nine fires Tuesday in Labrador and one in Newfoundland, which is now under control.

Another statement on Hydro’s website, issued Monday evening, said the fire threatening the town had not changed and remained south of the Churchill River.

Contractors also arrived to work on the fire break.

“Plant and transmission operations remain unaffected and are not at immediate risk,” says the statement.

While the number of personnel in Churchill Falls varies day by day, the notice said there are about 100 people on site for a variety of activities, including operations and site services, fire services and clearing work for the fire break.

Hydro was scheduled to have held its annual general meeting on Wednesday but has postponed it due to the fire.

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