Latest news about Long Lake Wildfire in Annapolis County

The Battle Continues: Annapolis County Fire Expected to Be a Long Fight

The natural fire that has ravaged thousands of hectares in Annapolis County continues to pose a significant challenge for officials from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). During a recent update, Scott Tingley, manager of forest protection with DNR, emphasized that the fire is still burning intensely and deeply in the ground, making it difficult to completely suppress and extinguish.

Despite some rain on Monday helping to bring other forest fires in the province under control, it did little to quell the 8,026-hectare long lake blaze. However, it did provide some relief for the exhausted crews who had been fighting tirelessly against the high heat and large flames.

Recent reports indicate that some houses have been lost and others damaged in West-Dalhousie due to the nature fire. However, officials have been unable to confirm the exact number of structures affected as it is still too dangerous to have teams on the ground assessing the damage.

To aid in the ongoing efforts, a crew of 20 firefighters and a management team from Ontario are expected to join Nova Scotia crews on Wednesday. Jim Rudderham, director of fleet and forest protection with DNR, acknowledged that this will be a long incident and emphasized the importance of balancing resources accordingly.

As of Tuesday, there have been no new reports of damage to houses. The fire continues to advance on both sides of Paradise Lake, with the province planning to disclose the number of damaged or lost structures once homeowners have been informed.

To combat the blaze, there are currently six helicopters and planes, along with bird dogs, assisting from the air. On the ground, there are 56 DNR firefighters, 62 from Ontario, and 47 local community firefighters, as well as operators with heavy equipment creating firebreaks.

Tingley expressed hope that the weather will provide some respite for the crews and allow them to gain more control over the fire. He noted that the recent rain has bought them some time to establish a foothold in the area for the next few days.

Looking ahead, Environment Canada’s forecast for the West-Dalhousie area indicates a 30 percent chance of showers on both Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a period of warmth and sun with a possibility of more rain next week.

For the latest evacuation levels and information on the fire perimeter, stay updated with DNR’s official updates.