Some residents of Annapolis Valley, N.S., have been ordered to evacuate by Annapolis Regional Emergency Management Operations due to an “out-of-control” wildfire in West Dalhousie.
On Thursday, the agency said people in West Dalhousie Road near Godfrey Lake have been asked to leave due to the Long Lake fire, which it estimated to be 30 hectares in size by the N.S. Natural Resources Department.
The residents have been told to head to the Bridgetown Fire Hall and to bring personal items such as a wallet or keys as well as an emergency preparedness kit.
There is also a second “out-of-control” wildfire in the area near Hoyt Lake, estimated at one hectare in size.
Meanwhile, Halifax Regional Municipality says that a wildfire on the western outskirts of Halifax that had prompted evacuations of businesses is now being held. It is about 15 hectares in size.
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There was a mandatory evacuation of businesses on Chain Lake Drive due to the fire near Susies Lake but that will be lifted as of 11 a.m.
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On Wednesday, Scott Tingley with the Natural Resources Department told reporters that the blaze was caused by human activity and an open fire pit was found at the scene of the fire.
“There was nobody in the area when crews arrived on the scene, that makes it impossible to hold the person or people responsible to account,” Tingley said at a news briefing. “That’s frustrating to everyone.”
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Open fires are banned across Nova Scotia and violations come with a $25,000 fine. The province has also banned hiking, fishing and using vehicles in the woods, as well as any camping outside of designated camp sites. Anyone caught breaking the rules will face the same $25,000 punishment.
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Twelve people have been fined since last week, Premier Tim Houston told reporters.
“It’s certainly my hope that every single one of those is fully prosecuted and collected. It’s just too serious of a situation right now,” Houston said.
Tingley said firefighters in the province had responded to 17 reports of wildfires in the past day.
Firefighters were able to suppress and extinguish “a number of them quite easily,” which allowed them to focus resources on the larger fires that require more attention, Tingley said.
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“Why are we getting these fires? It’s dry, and unfortunately there’s activities out there that are happening that shouldn’t be,” he said.
Houston said there’s been no loss of life or of structures thanks to the efforts of Nova Scotia’s firefighters.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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