Devin Drover and Judy Manning launched the program Monday to help victims with wildfire legal issues
As the province of Newfoundland and Labrador continues to battle wildfires – one of which Premier John Hogan says has destroyed nearly 200 structures – two lawyers are offering pro bono consultation services to impacted individuals in Conception Bay North.
Devin Drover and Judy Manning launched the program on Monday. It will provide assistance with wildfire-related legal issues, such as reviewing insurance policies, filing claims, navigating government relief programs, or providing advice on tenancy or employment issues.
Drover, who serves as Atlantic director and general counsel of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, told Canadian Lawyer he previously offered similar support for victims of Hurricane Fiona in 2022 and fielded a broad range of questions.
“I suspect we’ll see the same with this project,” he says.
According to Natural Resources Canada, there have already been 220 wildfires in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2025 – more than 2.5 times the 10-year average of 85 wildfires per year in the province. These statistics are current as of Aug. 20.
The Kingston fire in Conception Bay North, which is the largest in the province and began burning on Aug. 3, is estimated by the provincial government to be 10,095 hectares in size as of Monday.
Drover says the decision to launch the program was personal. “I grew up in Conception Bay North – both parents living in different communities in the area, I still have other family and friends that are impacted,” Drover says.
“When you see images of smoke and people evacuating, it hits hard knowing that it’s your own community or communities,” he adds. “As a lawyer, the best thing I can do is help by making sure people don’t have to face the complicated processes involved with legal claims related to the fire alone.”
Drover says he and Manning can be reached by email and will assess whether issues can be resolved over email, the phone, or virtual or in-person meetings.
Since posting about their program on LinkedIn Monday morning, the lawyers have already received inquiries and talked to lawyers who want to contribute.
“Moments like this speak to how important pro bono work is,” Drover says. “It’s important that as lawyers, we offer this pro bono assistance to provide a sense of security to people and to not make people feel they’re locked out of legal advice because of cost.”
He adds, “People I know are scared, they’re tired, and they don't know what comes next. We’re really hoping with this project to be able to give some certainty to people.”
