ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Campers have evacuated an area near a small forest fire on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula.

Police and the St. John’s Fire Department asked people to leave the Cochrane Pond Park campground near St. John’s due to the five-hectare fire.

Fire Duty Officer Dan Lavigne says the blaze is about a kilometre away from the Country Ribbon Chicken farm.

He says the evacuation was ordered due to the amount of smoke.

Lavigne says a helicopter is assisting ground crews with the firefighting effort, and a water bomber is flying to the area from Gander.

(VOCM)