NS wildfire investigation is ongoing, no cost estimates yet for firefighting efforts

The investigation into several wildfires in Shelburne and Halifax counties that burned thousands of acres in late May and early June is still under investigation.

“Until the start of the fires we saw in that time frame… there was no report of lightning strikes in the province, so we are almost certain that the fires were somehow man-made,” Nova Scotia Secretary of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy Tory Rushton said on Thursday.

“The active investigation is still ongoing, and as soon as we can and as soon as our other team players involved in the investigation (can), we will release that information as soon as possible.”

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Chris Marshall said he had no updates on the status of the investigation as of the end of the force. The police collected information as soon as they became aware of it, but DNRR is in charge of fire investigations until they turn the files over to the police.

“After it’s turned over to our researchers, it’s going to take time to sort it all out and see what we’re going to do with it,” he said. “As far as I know there have been no arrests.”

Rushton said there is no final cost yet for fighting the wildfires that have been burning since late May.

“We’re still working on the scenes, so the cost isn’t on my desk yet,” he said.

He said he will split the costs when they come in, but would not make an estimate.

“In Shelburne, we’ll be there most of the summer, if not all summer, so I don’t want to take a chance and be far out,” he said. “I prefer the real numbers.”

Those still on the ground in Shelburne County are patrolling the more than 22,000 acres of burnt land looking for signs of burning fire. Although it has rained a lot, fire can still smolder under stones or in hidden areas.

“Mother Nature has certainly helped us dampen hot spots in recent weeks, but we’re still doing flyovers and have crews patrolling the areas and monitoring those sites,” Rushton said.

Meanwhile, Rushton said nothing is out of the question in terms of strengthening firefighting resources in the coming years

He said the province has not ruled out adding more aircraft to the provincial fleet.

“I think what we said was that after the debriefing we would look at the professionals and the team leaders and make some recommendations on what can be done to support the four water bombers we have in the province,” he said.

DNRR has only 100 seasonal wildfire firefighters and another 100 employees who are trained but have other jobs. Last month, about 100 municipal volunteer firefighters who had previously been trained to fight wildfires passed a fitness test and were added to the county’s roster of contingent workers who can be deployed this season if needed. Some have since gone to Shelburne County to help with patrol work there.