2 wildfires burning out of control near Labrador West

Two out of control wildfires are burningnorth of Labrador West,one only a short distance away from Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro's Menihekdam.

The fire near the dam which goes between Labrador West and Schefferville, Que. beganSunday, according to Newfoundland and Labrador's new active wildfire dashboard.

The fire is four kilometres from the dam's hydroelectric generating station, saidprovincial fire duty officer Laurie Holloway on Tuesday. One water tanker is already on the sceneand a request for a second one has been made, she said.

"It was estimated in size yesterday at about 300 hectares. It's currently active as a fire there now, so it's most likely gone above that," Holloway told CBC News shortly after 4 p.m. NT.

Holloway said the fire is impeding a railway that runs through Labrador West and into Schefferville, Que.

Tshiuetin Rail Transportation, which operates a passenger train from Sept-lesto Schefferville, announced it will be suspending the route for one week.

Labrador West MHA Jordan Brown said he's spoken to Hydro employees, who told himthere aren't concerns about having to evacuate the dam just yet.

"They are keeping an eye on it. [There's] a lot of smoke and that," he said.

An emailed statement from Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro said the fire is currently considered a low risk andofficials are monitoring the situation.

The other fire is in an isolated area known as Milner Lake West, about 100 kilometresnorth of Labrador City.Thatfire is one hectare, according to the dashboard.

"There's no value at risk," Holloway said.

Brown said the fires could have been caused by lightning strikes. He said there were close to 100 lightning strikesin Labrador over the past week.

The Menihek fire has prompted a full fire response, which is "an immediate, aggressive attack and sustained suppression measures,"according to the dashboard.

The Milner Lake West fire has prompted a moderate response, which involves"minimizing the impacts to society and natural resources."

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