An evacuation order expanded on Sunday afternoon and again at night while the long forest fire of the lake in Annapolis County, NS, continues to grow due to strong winds and high temperatures.
An emergency alert on Sunday night said the evacuations were spreading to include highway 10 highway, Los Lagos de Zwicker and East, Old Liverpool Road, Che-Boag-A-Nish Road and West Dalhousie Road in Albany Cross.
Another publication of the Natural Resources Department said the fire remains out of control and growing. He said the fire has crossed West Dalhouse Road at several points, Thorne Road crossed and moved to Paradise Lake.
On early Sunday, an alert said that the evacuation order was expanding to include houses in Morse Road between civic numbers 571 and 1073, and in Thorne Road between civic numbers 4272 and 4291.
Jim Rudderham, director of fleet and forest protection with natural resources, told journalists on Sunday afternoon that climatic conditions are working against the efforts of firefighters trying to put the fire under control in the West Dalhousie area.
“Everything in the behavior of fire that you do not want to happen is happening today, so we have winds, strong winds, we have no rain, we have high temperatures and low humidity,” Rudderham said in an informative session about fire.
More than 100 houses were evacuated, which affect approximately 215 people, on August 14, one day after the fire began.
Where the new evacuees should go
Sunday’s alert said that new evacuees should register at the emergency reception center at Bridgetown Fire Hall.
The size of the fire was last estimated at 3,255 hectares, or more than 32 square kilometers. Natural resources said Sunday night that an updated estimate will not be possible until the volume of smoke is generated by the forest fire.
Scott Tingley, Forest Protection Manager of the department, told journalists on Sunday afternoon that the fire had probably expanded during the night on Saturday and continue to grow.
“This is the day we have been planning and, to be honest, hoping that it will not come true in the forecast. It will be a challenging day,” Tingley said.
He said that on Saturday night, it was estimated that part of the fire was one kilometer from West Dalhouse Road, while the most intense part of the fire was about three kilometers from the road.
The forest fire command post was moved from the West Dalhouse area to Bridgetown on Saturday as a precautionary measure.
In a publication on social networks, New Scotland Power said that electricity could temporarily turn off in Morse Road with little or no notice so that the first to respond can work safely around their team.
Tingley said the emergency management department is working to establish sprinklers around houses, structures and forests in the area to mitigate the impacts of the fire if it reaches the community.
Rain in prognosis
Environment Canada said that 40 km/h wind bursts were expected in the West Dalhousie area on Sunday. He also issued an air quality warning for Annapolis County, saying that the smoke of the forest fire “will significantly reduce air quality in favor of the wind.”
There is rain in the forecast for Monday, but officials warn that much more rain is needed to make a dent in the forest fire. Rudderham said that the possible appearance of new fires in other parts of the province remains an important concern, while dry conditions persist.
Natural Resource said that his next update on the fire will come on Monday morning.
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