Halifax-area wildfire 50% contained, has not grown

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A wildfire that has been burning out of control for more than three days in suburbs outside of Halifax is now 50 per cent contained, but officials warn crews are still dealing with a volatile and dangerous situation with more hot and dry weather on tap for today.

David Steeves of the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources said the fire has not grown, and roughly half of the 837-hectare blaze that reaches through the communities Upper Tantallon, Hammonds Plains and Pockwock is now contained.

But Steeves stressed during an update with reporters this morning that “we are far from being out of the woods.”

“Just because we do have a level of percentage of containment does not mean that the decrease of the importance of safety in the situation has lowered,” Steeves said at the incident command centre in Upper Tantallon.

“We are still dealing with a very dangerous and volatile situation and we’re going to take all precautions necessary to keep our folks and the public safe.”

Steeves said temperatures are expected to climb into the 30s, and that heat could create an environment ripe for “fast and aggressive” fire spread.

He noted the region is in another “crossover” situation, which is when relative humidity levels get close to the forecasted temperature and are combined with wind speeds of 30 km/h or greater.

“That lends itself to extreme fire situations and spotting potential,” he said, adding that crews spotted numerous flareups overnight Wednesday and that more of the same can be expected today.

Still, Steeves remained hopeful that if firefighters can manage the situation today, forecasted rain beginning Friday will further assist crews in getting the blaze under control.

“We need mother nature to get on side with us on this one,” said Steeves.

On Wednesday night, an emergency alert stated the evacuation order was rescinded for residents of Indigo Shores.

People were allowed to start returning to the neighbourhood at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, but only through Margeson Drive with an ID showing an address for the area.

Residents of Indigo Shores are still on an evacuation notice, which means they would have 30 minutes to go if they need to leave again.

On Wednesday, the province increased the fine for breaking the provincewide burn ban to $25,000. The increased fine does not apply to the ban on entering the woods, including hiking, fishing, camping and off-road vehicle use. The fine for violating that ban is $237.50.

“We need all Nova Scotians to take the wildfire situation as seriously as we are. We are still finding cases of illegal burning, and it has to stop,” Minister of Natural Resources Tory Rushton said in a news release.

During a news briefing with reporters on Wednesday, Halifax Mayor Mike Savage reiterated the importance of the provincewide burn ban. He said he was aware of eight calls for open burning on Tuesday.

“Illegal outdoor burning puts lives, properties and the environment at risk. And it really ties up critical fire department resources. You’re endangering yourselves, your families, your neighbours if you do that and you’re adding unnecessary undue stress to firefighters who have a lot on their hands at the moment,” Savage said.

“Think about other people, don’t be selfish. Don’t be stupid. Think about how it would feel to be personally responsible for the situation that we’re seeing unfold right now.”

Think about what you would need to bring in event of 30-minute evacuation, CAO says

Cathie O’Toole Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Halifax Regional Municipality encouraged residents to think about bringing things like important documents, medications and pets in the event that evacuation areas change.

The restrictions are in place until June 25, or until conditions change.

Halifax’s executive director of community safety Bill Moore said the municipality has started contacting people who have registered with 311 to advise them on the status of their homes.

The Department of Natural Resources and Renewables said a smaller fire that broke out near the Farmers Dairy on late Tuesday afternoon in Hammonds Plains was four hectares in size on Wednesday evening and 80 per cent contained.

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Wooded areas of municipal parks were closed on 8 a.m. Wednesday. Parks such as Shubie Park, Point Pleasant Park and Admiral Cove Park are also fully closed, as they are heavily wooded. Non-wooded areas of parks, like playgrounds and sport fields are still open.

Anyone who wants to help people displaced by the fire can donate to United Way Halifax, which has set up a wildfire recovery appeal, he said.

Houston to feds: ‘It’s time to pitch in with whatever you have’

During a provincial update on the wildfires burning across Nova Scotia, Premier Tim Houston said only the federal government knows what resources it has at its disposal.

Halifax Fire Deputy Chief David Meldrum said Tuesday that about 200 homes and businesses have been damaged or destroyed. He asked for patience from some 16,400 residents who are anxiously awaiting information about their properties.

Meldrum said Emergency Health Services has seen an increase in respiratory distress calls due to poor air quality, some as far away as Dunbrack Street in Halifax, about 20 kilometres from Upper Tantallon.

Nova Scotia is offering a one-time payment of $500 per eligible household for those affected by the evacuation order. Residents can apply for that payment through the Canadian Red Cross.

No injuries have been reported and no one has been reported missing.

Officials are investigating what started the initial fire in the Westwood Hills subdivision off Hammonds Plains Road, but officials with the Natural Resources department have said it was likely human activity.

Information Morning – NS: Strategies to guard against smoke inhalation 

The Lung association gives us some strategies to guard against smoke inhalation. Michelle Donaldson is director of communications with the Lung Association of Nova Scotia and PEI.

Nova Scotia RCMP have said officers are patrolling the affected neighbourhoods 24 hours a day to keep people who should not be there out.

Police are also asking people to be vigilant in spotting potential scams related to the evacuations. One incident has already been reported of someone receiving a call ordering them to evacuate their home, even though an evacuation order for their area did not exist.

Evacuation areas

The municipality said the evacuation zone could change, and if people need to leave, they should bring their pets, important documents and medication with them, as well as supplies for 72 hours.

People who live in the areas affected by the local state of emergency should have a bag packed and ready to go because they might need to leave on short notice.

Areas affected by evacuations so far include:

• Westwood Hills subdivision.
• White Hills subdivision.
• Highland Park subdivision.
• Haliburton Hills.
• Pockwock Road.
• Glen Arbour.
• Lucasville Road to Sackville Drive.
• Maplewood.
• Voyageur Way.
• St George Boulevard, including all side streets.
• McCabe Lake area.

The Halifax Regional Municipality said in a news release Monday afternoon that all residents who have been required to leave must register with 311 (toll-free at 1-800-835-6428, 1-866-236-0020 for hearing impaired only line teletypewriter users).

School closures

The following schools are closed Thursday:

• Hammonds Plains Consolidated.
• Madeline Symonds Middle School.
• Bay View High School.
• Tantallon Junior Elementary.
• Tantallon Senior Elementary.
• Five Bridges Junior High.
• St. Margaret’s Bay Elementary.
• Kingswood Elementary.
• Charles P. Allen High School.
• Basinview Drive Community School.
• Bedford South School.
• Harry R. Hamilton Elementary.
• Millwood Elementary.
• Millwood High School.
• Sackville Heights Elementary.
• Sackville Heights Junior High.
• École du Grand-Portage.

Comfort centres

The Halifax Regional Municipality declared a local state of emergency Sunday night in order to access additional support.

Comfort centres have been opened at:

• Black Point and Area Community Centre, 8579 St Margarets Bay Rd., will remain open until 9 p.m. on Wednesday. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday.
• Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre, 1583 Beaver Bank Rd., will remain open until 9 p.m. on Wednesday. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday.
• Canada Games Centre, 26 Thomas Raddall Dr., open 24 hours.
• John W. Lindsay YMCA, 5640 Sackville St., Monday to Friday 5:45 a.m. to 10 p.m, Saturday and Sunday 7:45 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Community YMCA,2269 Gottingen St., Halifax, Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A mobile primary health clinic will be available at the Canada Games comfort centre on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clinic will be able to provide care for non-urgent health issues, like prescription refills, minor respiratory symptoms, sore throat, headache, muscle pain and mental health and addiction support.