In August 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador experienced an unprecedented wildfire situation, with multiple active fires burning simultaneously across the province. Three events in particular – the Holyrood Fire, the Paddy’s Pond Fire and the Martin Lake Fire – required close coordination and had the potential to impact Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro’s employees, operations and customers.

Throughout the response, Hydro’s priorities were to protect the safety of our people, maintain reliable electricity service, and support provincial emergency response efforts and affected communities.

Safety and Support for Employees

Hydro activated the Corporate Emergency Response Plan (CERP), worked closely with Provincial Fire and Emergency Services, the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) and other partners to monitor conditions and coordinate response actions. Regular updates were shared with employees and contractors, reinforcing safety expectations, compliance with province‑wide fire and ATV bans, and precautions related to reduced air quality.

With evacuation alerts, road closures and access restrictions affecting some employees, Hydro activated additional supports, including a dedicated People Care Centre and ongoing reminders about the availability of the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) to support employees and their families during a stressful time.

Responding Across Multiple Fire Events

At Holyrood, a wildfire that began on August 4 prompted a provincial evacuation order affecting the community and the Holyrood Thermal Generating Station. Most employees safely evacuated in advance, while a small essential crew remained on site to monitor the plant, which was already offline due to scheduled annual maintenance. During the response, Holyrood employees also supported local firefighters by supplying water from the plant’s on‑site water system to assist suppression efforts.

At the same time, Hydro closely monitored fires near critical transmission corridors, including the Paddy’s Pond area serving the St. John’s metro region and the Martin Lake area near Bay d’Espoir. Despite smoke, fire proximity and suppression activity, electricity service remained stable. Crews conducted aerial and ground patrols, responded quickly to equipment issues, and coordinated closely with emergency officials and Newfoundland Power.

The August 2025 wildfires highlighted the importance of preparedness, coordination and clear communication. Above all, the response reflected the dedication of Hydro employees across the province, working together to keep people safe, support communities and deliver reliable electricity during an exceptionally challenging period.

Wildfire Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness

Hydro’s response to the August 2025 wildfires was supported by proactive wildfire mitigation and preparedness work carried out across our system. Thankfully, in 2025, wildfires passed through multiple transmission corridors with no significant infrastructure damage and minimal outages. In addition to close coordination with the PEOC, targeted vegetation management, including spring brush cutting on TL 218 and high brush removal during planned outages, proved effective during the Paddy’s Pond and Martin’s Lake wildfire events.

Recognizing that climate change has the potential to increase the frequency and severity of wildfire seasons, Hydro continues to expand mitigation activities, strengthen interagency coordination, and enhance preparedness measures. We are focused on reducing risk, building system resilience, and ensuring reliable service for customers.