**** HRM Media Release
Municipal fires and impacts update – June 3, 4:50 p.m.
The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following updates and impacts to municipal services as a result of the ongoing fires.
The municipality is assessing changing conditions and will continue to update evacuation orders to allow residents to return home as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Based on current status, and requirements to complete further safety assessments, residents may not be able to return to the area of significant impact for 10-14 days. While the broader evacuation area was less severally impacted by fire, there are many properties within that area that have been impacted by smoke and debris.
The timing of any adjustments to evacuation orders is subject to change, depending on various factors such as weather conditions and time needed to complete assessment and response efforts, including but not limited to:
- Ongoing fire management, including monitoring and addressing hot spots that exist (these are primarily located in the area of significant impact)
- Evaluation of infrastructure
- Determining areas are safe from contamination
- Environmental considerations
All residents who have recently returned to their homes in the re-opened areas are reminded that, given the risk posed by ongoing fires, there is still a requirement to be prepared to evacuate within 30 minutes.
More broadly, all residents in the state of local emergency zone should have a bag packed as they may have limited time to leave their homes. Residents who are directed to evacuate are advised to bring their pets, important documents and medication with them, as well as supplies for a minimum of 72 hours.
Well water safety
After a wildfire, well water may be contaminated with bacteria and chemicals that can make you sick. Contamination can come from the fire itself, from products used to fight the fire, and from chemicals that seep into the water supply if items such as oil tanks are damaged. For information on well safety, please see provincial guidelines.
Air quality
Residents are advised that a special air quality statement is in effect. For more information, visit Environment & Climate Change Canada’s website.
Extension of Local State of Emergency
With the approval of the Minster responsible for the Emergency Management Act, Mayor Mike Savage and Regional Council have extended the local state of emergency in the communities affected by the fires. The local state of emergency will be in effect for until Friday, June 9, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. days, unless otherwise lifted or extended.
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**** DNR Release
DNR Wildfire
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Five wildfires were extinguished since the morning update today, June 3, and the status of three others has changed. The total number of active wildfires in the province is now down to five. Below are details on these wildfires.
Barrington Lake, Shelburne County:
— fire is still out of control, covering 24,980 hectares (249.8 square kilometres)
— about 115 firefighters from Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR), more than 40 volunteer/municipal and 18 from Newfoundland and Labrador
— air resources include five helicopters and one water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador.
Lake Road, Municipality of the District of Shelburne:
— fire is being held at 114 hectares
— 15 DNRR firefighters.
Evacuation information for the Shelburne fires is available at: https://www.facebook.com/shelb
Pubnico, Yarmouth County:
— fire is being held at 138 hectares
— firefighters on scene include 20 from DNRR and also volunteer/municipal.
Air and heavy equipment resources, including five helicopters and one water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador, are being co-ordinated between the three wildfires in Shelburne and Yarmouth counties.
Westwood Hills, Tantallon:
— fire is 85 per cent contained, being held at an estimated 950 hectares
— firefighters on scene include 40 from DNRR, 108 from Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and nine from Department of National Defence
— air resources include two helicopters and one water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador.
Containment efforts include a combination of fire-supressing methods including dozer breaks, natural breaks and nearby highways.
Hammonds Plains (Farmers Dairy Lane):
— fire is now listed as under control, 100 per cent contained
— four HRM volunteer firefighters remain on scene.
Up-to-date information on HRM comfort centres, evacuation centres, response efforts and more, is available https://www.halifax.ca/ and by following @hfxgov on Twitter.
People are asked to please remain away from all wildfire areas.
Quick Facts:
— the five wildfires that were extinguished since the morning update were in Hants West, Shelburne (Upper Clyde River Road), Waverley, and two others in HRM – Long Lake and Perrin Drive
— there is a provincewide ban on open fires; the fine has been increased to $25,000 for breaking the burn ban
— travel and activities in the woods are restricted
— people should not operate drones over a forest fire; drones can interfere with the suppression effort and pose a danger to aircraft and first responders
— people should only call 911 if their health or safety is threatened and they need immediate help; for non-emergencies in HRM related to the police, people can call 902-490-5016
Additional Resources:
More information and other updates related to the wildfires are available at: https://novascotia.ca/alerts/
Restrictions on being in the woods: https://novascotia.ca/news/rel
Burn restrictions: https://novascotia.ca/burnsafe
News Release – Increased Fine for Breaking Burn Ban: https://novascotia.ca/news/rel
