The long forest fire of the Lake in Annapolis County remains out of control and has grown to an estimate of 1,977 hectares, according to the Natural Resources Department of Nueva Scotia (DNR).
In an update published on the social media platform X just before 8 pm on Sunday, the department said the forest fire had advanced beyond Lake Godfrey to the intersection of the Fairns and West Dalhouse roads, near several houses that have been evacuated, and next to Spectacle Lake.
The DNR said that a great land force of more than 200 firefighters, including 77 of the department, 120 local firefighters, 20 of Ontario and five of Prince Eduardo island, were on the scene trying to save houses on Sunday night.
Two hired helicopters were dropping water on the fire, and from 7:45 pm local time, there were no damage to any structure.
On Sunday afternoon, Scott Tingley, Forest Protection Manager for the DNR, said the sprinklers, hoses and barriers were in their place to protect the houses in the area, but the fire was “in kilometers” of West Dalhouse Road.
Jim Rudderham, director of fleet protection and forests of the province, said that climatic conditions did not help, with winds moving the fire northeast towards West Dalhouseie, where 107 houses were evacuated on Thursday.
“Today is very low humidity, wind, and warm, and it is all we don’t need to help us turn off fires,” Rudderham said.
An previous DNR update said that “more possible evacuations”, but from 8 pm, no more evacuation orders have been issued. The next update will be delivered on Monday morning, the department said.
The long Lake Wildfires Complex has grown up to the estimated hectares of 1977. It has advanced beyond Godfrey Lake to the intersection of Fairns and West Dalhousie Roads on the one hand, and next to the southern spectacle lakes in the other. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/jdh69ul5gd
Four water flavor aircraft from the Northwest territories were used before, but deviated to tear down a new fire in Lake Simonds in Digby County on Sunday night. The planes have returned to the base for the night, the department said.
In a press release on Sunday afternoon, the Federal Government announced that it approved a request for attendance of Nueva Scotia.
The total scope of the resources that will be deployed is not yet known, but Eleanor Olszewski, the Federal Minister of Emergency Management and Resilience of the Community, said that the Government is working with the Canadian Armed Forces and other partners to “ensure that new Scotland has the support it needs.”
According to Patricia Jreige, spokesman for the New Scotland Emergency Management Department, the province asked Ottawa for permission to use CFB Greenwood to land and refuel the four skimmer planes that arrived from the Northwest territories.
Evacuated allowed to return briefly home
During the weekend, the evacuees were allowed to return home with a escort to collect clothes and take essential items such as medications.
Dustin Esslow, the attachment of the municipalities of Annapolis County, said Sunday that most of the 215 affected people stay with family and friends, but others have been camping.
A community shelter on the New Scotland Campus Community College in Middleton remains open, but Estlow said no one has stayed overnight until now.
He said the municipality is exploring greater support.
“We know that this will continue for a longer time than we want, and measure that advances things, we will adapt our plan and support available for people,” said ESLOW.
‘Hot, exhausting, hard work’ for firefighters
Rudderham said that the moral of firefighters is a mixture of “happiness and sadness”, since they face this “hard and exhausting work.”
“I think many of them are proud to do the work they are doing,” he said. “They go to the soldier and do the work that must be done.”
Rudderham said that Friday’s helicopter accident at the fire scene is weighing on the group. He said that the pilot, who was found conscious and taken for medical care after his helicopter entered a shallow lake, is a friend of many of the firefighters.
New Scotland Power said Sunday night that to support fire extinguish efforts, you may need to temporarily turn off energy in the Morse Road area so that the first to respond “can work safely around our team.”
He warned that a blackout does not mean that a house is at risk or that evacuation is required.
There are 15 forest fires in the province. Long Lake, which began on Wednesday, is the only one that appears as out of control.
DNR Tingley said that while the rain in Sunday’s forecast would be appreciated, it will not be enough to have a measurable impact.
Smoking around the province
Many New York Scottish woke up on Sunday for heavy smoke, which caused some fire departments in the province to urge residents to keep calm.
“This morning with the coldest temperatures, the cold air actually pushed the smoke to the ground and to the [Annapolis Valley]”said Chad Schrader, deputy director of the Wolfville Fire Department.” The smoke was quite bad to the point that people thought there was a closer forest fire. “
In a publication on social networks, the Fire Department says that if the smoke seems generalized or nebulous throughout the area instead of forming a different column, it is likely to be drifting in the ongoing fires and does not require an emergency call.
Emergency calls should be made if there is a clear column of smoke, visible flames or a concentrated area of heavy smoke that seems local, he says.
The department says that residents should call if the smoke comes directly from a nearby building, vehicle or forest area, or if they believe there may be an immediate fire threat.
The Air Quality Health Index of Canada forecasts a low risk around the province, but indicates the possibility of moderate risk in some areas due to smoke.
