The summer of 1961 was the worst in living memory for forest fires in Newfoundland. One of the biggest fires that year descended on Clarenville. It came to local attention about mid-week A minor blaze had been reported near the upper reaches of Dunn's River on the Burin Peninsula.

Some 60 kilometers south of Clarenville, trying to consume a bog, this was no fire to worry about. Within a week the call went out for volunteers! Fanned by high winds, it began a relentless march towards Clarenville.

Clarenville was right in the line of the fire. A special train was waiting at the station to help evacuate the town. 

The wind that had driven the fire north up the spine of the Burin Peninsula to the outskirts of Clarenville, changed direction and drove the fire north-west towards Port Blandford.

The Van Doos of the Canadian Army arrived from New Brunswick to man the fire-line shoulder to shoulder with the local volunteers. At the end of a long hard day as many as 200 Van Doos bedded down in the Clarenville Stadium.

Courtesy: Journey Through Time - Clarenville, Hub of the East Coast ©