News release

Update on Wildfires, June 4 (afternoon)

Natural Resources and Renewables

The Lake Road, Municipality of the District of Shelburne, and Pubnico, Yarmouth County, wildfires are now under control since the morning update, today, June 4. Under control means they are contained and not expected to move but still not out. The total number of active wildfires in the province is five. Below are details on these wildfires.

Barrington Lake, Shelburne County:

  • fire is still out of control, covering 24,980 hectares (250 square kilometres)
  • about 114 firefighters from Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR) and more than 40 volunteer/municipal
  • air resources include four helicopters and four water bombers from Montana

Lake Road, Municipality of the District of Shelburne:

  • fire is under control at an estimated 114 hectares
  • 15 DNRR firefighters.

Evacuation information for the Shelburne fires is available at: https://www.facebook.com/shelburneemo

Pubnico, Yarmouth County:

  • fire is under control at an estimated 138 hectares
  • firefighters on scene include 20 from DNRR and also volunteer/municipal.

Westwood Hills, Tantallon:

  • fire is under control at estimated 950 hectares

Containment efforts include a combination of fire-supressing methods including dozer breaks, natural breaks and nearby highways.

Hammonds Plains:

  • fire is under control at four hectares

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. 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

Quick Facts:

  • there is a provincewide ban on open fires; the fine has been increased to $25,000 for breaking the burn ban
  • restrictions on travel and activities in the woods in all areas except for Shelburne County and anywhere evacuation orders are in place will be lifted effective 12:01 a.m., Monday, June 5.
  • 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
  • a wildfire that is held or being held means it is not moving but it is still out of control
  • a wildfire that is contained means it is surrounded by either natural breaks ( ex: road, lake, river) or a dozer line or hose line

Additional Resources:

Information on school closures and other updates related to the wildfires are available at: https://novascotia.ca/alerts/

Changes to restrictions on travel and activities in the woods:
https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230604005

Restrictions on being in the woods: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230530003

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

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

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