Crews Continue to Battle Wildfire in Remote Area of Cape Breton’s Richmond County

Firefighters are currently working to contain a wildfire that broke out in a remote area of Cape Breton’s Richmond County. The blaze ignited around 5 p.m. AT on Thursday on Three Rivers Road in Framboise, approximately 66 kilometres southwest of Sydney, as reported by the Municipality of the County of Richmond.

The fire has spread to about 15 hectares in size and has crossed at least one roadway, posing a potential threat to the surrounding area. While no evacuation orders have been issued, residents are being urged to remain vigilant and follow any instructions from authorities.

Unfortunately, one old trailer that had been vacant for over 20 years has been lost in the fire. As a precautionary measure, one residence has been soaked down, and another has had a sprinkler system set up to protect it from the flames.

Efforts to Contain the Blaze

Scott Tingley, manager of forest protection at the province’s Natural Resources Department, stated that only two homes are in close proximity to the fire, and there is currently no immediate threat to other properties. A team of 17 staff members from Natural Resources, along with about 12 volunteer firefighters, are on the scene working tirelessly to battle the blaze.

Tingley mentioned in an interview with CBC’s Information Morning Nova Scotia that progress is being made in containing the wildfire. Despite initial difficulties in extinguishing the flames on Thursday evening, ground crews have been focusing on saturating the surrounding areas to prevent the fire from spreading further.

While most of the firefighters have left for the night, they remain on standby to return if the situation escalates. Lois Landry, warden for the Municipality of the County of Richmond, highlighted the challenges posed by the rural and sparsely populated nature of the area, including poor cellphone service that hampers communication with emergency crews.

The province imposed a fire ban for most of Nova Scotia on Thursday following a period of warm, dry weather. Fortunately, some relief came overnight as rain fell into Friday, aiding firefighting efforts.

As the wildfire continues to pose a threat to the area, authorities are working diligently to contain the blaze and protect residents and properties from harm.