New Found Gold pauses work at Queensway amid wildfires

[Ben Graham]

Wildfires have are prompting regional states of emergency in Newfoundland. Credit: AdobeStock

New Found Gold (TSXV: NFG; NYSE-A: NFGC) is suspending all activities at its main Queensway project that use heavy machinery or take place near wooded areas amid wildfire risks in northeast Newfoundland.

The temporary pause applies to drilling, mulching and excavating activities, New Found said in a release on Wednesday afternoon. Queensway is just west of Gander, about 340 km northwest of the capital St. Johns.

“The Fire Weather index across the island of Newfoundland is classified as Extreme or Very High, with several major fires burning,” New Found CEO Keith Boyle said. “At this time, our thoughts are with our employees and contractors, our local communities, and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.”

The suspension comes as wildfires over the past week have worsened in the eastern parts of Newfoundland, including areas near St. John’s.

Regional states of emergency have been declared for the towns of Conception Bay South and Paradise and the Southlands and Galway areas of St. John’s. An evacuation order has been issued for the Paddy’s Pond industrial area near Conception Bay South.

This summer’s wildfire season has spurred province-wide states of emergency in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, which led to the suspension of several mines and exploration programs.