NS Wildfire grows to almost 2,000 hectares while ground teams fight to save houses

The Long Lake Wildfire in Annapolis County stays out of hand and, according to the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), has become an estimated 1,977 hectares.

In an update Posted on Social Media Platform X just before 8 p.m. SundayThe department said that the natural fire beyond Godfrey Lake had fallen to the intersection of Fairns and West Dalhousie Roads, near a number of houses that have been evacuated, and to the south side of Spectacle Lake.

The DNR said that a large ground force of more than 200 firefighters – including 77 from the department, 120 local firefighters, 20 from Ontario and five from Prince Edward Island – were on stage to save houses on Sunday evening.

Two contracted helicopters dropped water on the fire, and from 7.45 pm local time there were no reports of damage to a structure.

On Sunday afternoon, Scott Tingley, manager of forest protection for the DNR, said sprinklers, snakes and barriers to protect houses in the area, but the fire was “within kilometers” of West Dalhousie Road.

Jim Rudderham, the director of the province for fleet and forest protection, said that weather conditions did not help any business, with Winden moving the fire northeast to West -Dalhousie, where 107 houses were evacuated on Thursday.

“Today is a very low humidity and wind, and warm, and everything we don’t need to help us extinguish burn,” said Rudderham.

An earlier update of the DNR said that “more evacuations possible”, but from 8 p.m. there were no more evacuation orders. The next update will be delivered on Monday morning, the department said.

Four water bodies from the Northwest areas were previously in use, but were diverted to bring down a new fire in Simonds Lake in Digby County on Sunday evening. The planes have returned to the basics for the evening, the department said.

In a press release on Sunday afternoon, the federal government announced that it approved a request for help from Nova Scotia.

The full degree of the resources that will be used is not yet known, but Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister of Emergency Management and the resilience of the community, said that the government cooperates with the Canadian forces and other partners to “ensure that Nova Scotia has the support it needs.”

According to Patricia Jreige, spokesperson for the Ministry of Emergency Management of Nova Scotia, the province of Ottawa asked for permission to use CFB Greenwood to refuel the four skimmer aircraft that have arrived from the Northwest areas.

Evacués were allowed to return home briefly

During the weekend, Evacués were allowed to return home briefly with an escort to pick up clothes and take essential items such as medicines.

Dustin as slavery, the deputy director of the municipality of the county of Annapolis, said on Sunday that most of the 215 affected people stay with family and friends, but others have camping.

A community shelter at the Nova Scotia Community College -Campus in Middleton remains open, but Enslow said that nobody has stayed overnight so far.

He said that the municipality is investigating further support.

“We know that this will continue for longer than what we want, and as the things progress, we will adjust our plan and the available support for individuals,” Enslow said.

‘Hot, tiring, hard work’ for firefighters

Rudderham said that the moral of the fire brigade is a mix of “happiness and sorrow” while taking this “hot, tiring, hard work”.

“I think a lot of them are proud to do the work they do,” he said. “They go on a soldier and do the work to be done.”

Rudderham said that Friday’s helicopter accident weighs in the fire scene in the group. He said that the pilot, who was consciously found and was taken for medical attention after his helicopter entered a shallow lake, is a friend of many of the firefighters.

Nova Scotia Power said on Sunday evening that in order to support fire fighting efforts, it may have to temporarily switch off the electricity in the Morse Road area, so that first responds “can work safely around our equipment.”

It warned that a power failure does not mean that a house is in danger or that evacuation is required.

There are 15 forest fires in the province. Long Lake, which started on Wednesday, is the only one mentioned as out of hand.

The DNR Tingley said that although rain is appreciated in the prediction for Sunday, it will not be enough to have a measurable impact.

Smoke around the province

Many Nova Scotians woke up from heavy smoke on Sunday, so that some fire brigades encourage residents to stay calm.

“This morning with the cooler temperatures, the cold air actually pushed the smoke to the ground and in the [Annapolis Valley]”Said Chaad Schrader, deputy chef for the Wolfville Fire Department.” The smoke was quite bad to the point where people thought there was a closer natural fire. “

In a post on social media, the fire brigade says that smoke in the entire area seems widespread or blurry instead of forming a separate column, it is probably inside through running fires and does not require an emergency call.

Emergency calls should be made if there is a clear smoke column, visible flames or a concentrated area of heavy smoke that seems locally, says it.

The department says that residents should call if smoke comes directly from a building, vehicle or nearby wooded area, or if they believe that there can be an immediate fire threat.

Environment Canadas Air Quality Health Index predicts a low risk around the province, but notes the possibility of moderate risk in some areas due to the smoke.