News release

Update on Wildfires, School Closures

Natural Resources and Renewables

Crews are fighting a new wildfire near Lake Road in the Municipality of the District of Shelburne.

The fire is currently estimated at 20 hectares and is considered out of control. Twenty Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR) firefighters are battling the fire, along with three helicopters and one water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador.

The municipality has issued mandatory evacuations for parts of Lake Road, Sandy Point Road, Jordan Bay and Jordan Ferry, as well as a recommended evacuation for some other areas. Nova Scotia Health has evacuated Roseway Hospital, located in Shelburne.

Barrington Lake, Shelburne County, update:

  • fire is still out of control, covering 17,440 hectares
  • firefighters include more than 50 from DNRR and more than 40 volunteer/municipal
  • eight airplanes from New Brunswick that disperse a mix of water and fire retardant are on-site.

Evacuation information is available at: https://www.facebook.com/shelburneemo

Pubnico, Yarmouth County, update:

  • fire is still out of control and covers 163 hectares
  • firefighters on scene include 20 from DNRR and 10 volunteer/municipal
  • one helicopter is on scene.

Westwood Hills, Tantallon update:

  • fire is still out of control and is estimated at 837 hectares
  • the focus is on fire containment and structure protection
  • firefighters on scene include 52 from DNRR, 100 from Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and nine from Department of National Defence (DND)
  • three helicopters and one water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador are on scene.

Hammonds Plains update:

  • fire is about four hectares in size and is 80 per cent contained
  • 10 volunteer/municipal firefighters are on scene
  • there are two helicopters 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:

  • there is a provincewide ban on open fires; the fine has been increased to $25,000 for breaking the burn ban
  • 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 updates related to the wildfires are available at: https://novascotia.ca/alerts/

Burn restrictions: https://novascotia.ca/burnsafe/

News Release - Province Announces Restrictions During Wildfires: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230530003

News Release – Increased Fine for Breaking Burn Ban: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230531004

The following schools are closed Thursday, June 1:

Tri-County Regional Centre for Education:

  • Barrington Municipal High School
  • Clark’s Harbour Elementary School
  • Evelyn Richardson Memorial Elementary School
  • Forest Ridge Academy
  • Hillcrest Academy
  • Lockeport Elementary and Regional High Schools
  • Shelburne Regional High School

Halifax Regional Centre for Education:

  • 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

Conseil scolaire acadien provincial:

  • École secondaire du Sommet
  • École Beaubassin (including Centre Tournesol)
  • École du Grand-Portage

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