Children evacuated due to Long Lake wildfire ‘anxious’ as school year approaches

As a wildfire in Annapolis County continues to burn out of control, some kids are looking at a very different start to the school year.

Jonathan Gillies is an evacuee and a father of three children — sons ages 13 and 8, and an 11-year-old daughter. They are out of their home after the evacuation in the fire zone was was expanded last weekend.

“My daughter was a little bit upset … when we had to evacuate our own home,” he said. “That was a bit of a traumatic experience for her.”

Gillies said his children are feeling anxious about returning to school.

To them, the people in the community are no strangers — they are friends and family, people they grew up with. Gillies says many of the kids who lost their homes go to the same school, ride on the same bus and play on the same playground as they do.

“My kids worry about their friends,” he said. “They know all of those people.”

An overview of the fire near Paradise Lake (Province of Nova Scotia)

The school is accommodating transportation for people affected by the evacuation, changing routes for school buses to make it easier. 

Gillies says he see the stress on some kids in their behaviour. “Hyperness sometimes, and things like that,” he said. 

Still, Gillies said his kids and other in the community are coping. He said they are painting signs to thank the firefighters and meeting them at a safe spot to wave at them.

Gillies, who is also the president of the West Dalhousie community hall, said conversations with evacuees are now shifting to what to do in the long term.

The Department of Natural Resources says the wildfire could continue for another month.  

He said he is living in an apartment big enough for his family, so everyone has a bed and a roof over their heads.

But that isn’t the case for all evacuated families. Some are living in motel rooms, student residences or staying with friends and family. 

“Anxiety is absolutely increasing,” he said. “The questions are still there.” 

Robert Howie says his family is stressed about the situation. (Peter Evans/CBC)

Robert Howie is one of those people thinking about the future. 

He and his family were among the first evacuated from West Dalhousie Road on Aug. 14 and have spent three weeks living in a motor home.

They’re already looking for a more stable place to stay during this evacuation, while he worries about possible smoke damage to his house. 

“There’s a lot more people in a lot worse situations than we are,” he said.

Leslie Wiseman with the Bridgetown Salvation Army has been collecting donations for the residents, and says the need for these donations has increased over the last few weeks.

DNR says favourable weather conditions, like rain and colder nights, are helpful. (Ryan Snoddon/CBC)Fire grows slightly, but firefighters make gains

The fire in the Long Lake area has grown slightly this weekend, but favourable weather conditions are helping crews make “good progress,” officials say. 

In a series of social media posts, the Department of Natural Resources said the new estimated size of the fire is 8,465 hectares — or over 84 square kilometres. 

Firefighters at the scene haven’t completed a line around the entire fire zone. But firebreaks — land cleared to stop the fire from spreading — are almost complete, with work focused on the northern end of the fire to prevent spread toward communities. 

“Aim is to get evacuees home as soon as possible,” read the post.

The province received some rain in the last few days. Nights are expected to cool with temperatures forecast at 11 C or below in Annapolis County.

An air quality advisory remains in effect for Annapolis County. 

Twenty homes and about a dozen other structures have been destroyed in the wildfire, which began more than three weeks ago.