Newfoundland and Labrador’s premier says as many as 100 homes and other structures may have been wiped out by the province’s largest wildfire — but no one can say for sure, because it’s still “too dangerous” for crews to get in and count.The blaze, sparked on Aug. 3 near Kingston on the northwestern shore of Conception Bay, has grown into an 8-square-kilometre monster.It has chewed through everything in its path for nearly two weeks, forcing evacuations and leaving residents in limbo.According to the Canadian Press, Premier John Hogan told reporters Thursday that firefighters can’t yet confirm how much has been lost.“It is still too dangerous for crews to access the area and make a comprehensive tally of the damage,” Hogan said.Jamie Chippett, with the province’s Forestry Department, said cooler, wetter weather has slowed the fire, but it remains officially out of control and is still smouldering underground. That makes it stubborn, unpredictable — and still a threat.Officials haven’t released a breakdown of what’s been destroyed, nor have they said when evacuees might be allowed back. The lack of hard answers is fuelling frustration among locals who’ve been out of their homes for nearly two weeks.Meanwhile, The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says it arrested a 20-year-old man Tuesday night for allegedly setting a series of brush fires in the downtown St. John’s.Police say multiple fires were lit in quick succession before officers moved in. The suspect is facing charges, and investigators have not linked the case to the Kingston wildfire.
