Evac order expands in Annapolis Co. , wildfire now 406 hectares

A mandatory evacuation order has expanded in Annapolis County due to the Long Lake wildfire.

Nova Scotia Emergency Management says it includes:

• West Dalhousie Road intersection to 484 Morse Road
• 4530 West Dalhousie Road to 6186 West Dalhousie Road
• 2648 Thorne road to 3408 Thorne Road
  122, 126, 126 Unit 2 Medicraft Lane

The Bridgetown fire department is a reception centre for evacuees.

Other homes already evacuated include the area of Hoyt Lake and West Dalhousie Road between addresses 4094 to 5315.

The Long Lake wildfire is now about 406  hectares in size and about 3 km away from West Dalhousie Road, according to an update from The Department of Natural Resources at 8:45 p.m., Thursday.

It started because of a lightning strike on Wednesday night.

The fire has now grown more than ten times bigger than it was Thursday morning.

The wind is pushing the fire northeast, and so far 42 homes have been evacuated.

Another separate fire is burning near Hoyt Lake at about 1 hectare in size, with seven DNR firefighters on scene, and aircraft support.

Crews are working to create a dozer guard, where a bulldozer clears away plants and growth that could burn, around the West Dalhousie Community Centre and two communication towers, DNR says.

Leave immediately

DNR has released a map showing the evacuation area and the size of the fire as of about 2:45 p.m.

This map from DNR shows the evacuation area with the dotted line and the estimated size of the Long Lake fire with the solid red line. The map is from about 2:45 p.m. and will be updated as the situation changes. (Department of Natural Resources)

If you are in this area, DNR says evacuate immediately. They will update the map as the situation changes.

Take a 72-hour kit with critical items like keys, medication and wallets.

Head to the Bridgetown Fire Hall at 31 Bay Road. Avoid that area if you are not affected by the evacuation.

Do not call 911 for updates. Instead, reach out to 1-833-806-1515 for information.

Pay attention to local news and listen to the direction of local authorities.

The alert is in effect until further notice.

Road closures for Long Lake fire

West Dalhousie Road is closed from 5 km west of Morse Road to the intersection of Trunk 10 and West Dalhousie Road, according to a DNR update from about 1:45 p.m.

Because of the nature of the fire, these road closures can change quickly, DNR  says.

Forest conditions worse than 2023

Forest Protection Director Jim Rudderham says conditions are worse than the spring of 2023.

The Tantallon and Shelburne fires destroyed or damaged more than 150 homes, but the forests were not so dry at that time.

“Now we are well past June, July, and into mid-August. Those fuels are incredibly dry now, all of them,” said Rudderham.

“We would take any drop of moisture we can get. But we need protracted days of steady, steady rain. Not hard downpours, but a nice steady rain is what we need.”

Business evacuations lifted near Susies Lake

Evacuations have been lifted for businesses near the Susies Lake wildfire, according to HRM.

In a post on social media, Thursday morning, the city says the order was lifted by 11 a.m., however Julius Blvd remains closed from the intersection with Dugger McNeil Drive to the intersection with Susie Lake Crescent to help firefighters.

Barriers will remain in place with police on site.

Halifax Transit routes will return to normal.

Scott Tingley, Manager of Forest Protection, said crews have contained about 75 per cent of the perimeter and in some spots firefighters are pushing inward.

“That one’s still looking good,” said Tingley.

As of about 3:35 p.m., the fire was still being held at its current size, according to DNR.

Caused by humans

The province has confirmed the wildfire was caused by people.

Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources says crews found an open fire when they arrived at Susies Lake on Tuesday afternoon, but whoever started it had already left. The fire is being held at around 15 hectares..

Thirty provincial firefighters and six Halifax Fire crews are working on the ground this morning, taking advantage of foggy, misty conditions. Helicopters are on standby until the fog clears.

Elsewhere, a one-hectare fire near Hoyt Lake in Annapolis County is still out of control, according to an update from about 3:35 p.m.

Officials say the dry conditions are driving up wildfire activity, with crews responding to 17 fires in the past 24 hours alone. More updates on all fires are expected later this morning.

Lake Paul, Kings County wildfire

A wildfire near Lake Paul in Kings County is under control according to an update from the Department of Natural Resources at about 7:50 p.m.

First responders are on scene, including 10 DNR staff and 10 local firefighters.

There was a 0.9 hectare fire in the area as well, but the province said it was under control just before 5 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

Birchwood Road, Cumberland County fires

Six small wildfires near Birchwood Road in the area of Oxford, Cumberland County, are all under control. Crews will stay on site until they are fully put out.

That update, from about 10:40 a.m., is DNR’s last update on those fires.

DNR first reported them late Wednesday night, saying one was under control and five were being held.

A helicopter dropped water on them before returning to base for the night, while DNR and fire crews worked on the ground.

More to come…