Homes have been evacuated as a forest fire burns out of control on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore.
Nova Scotia RCMP say they’re assisting Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency and the Department of Natural Resources at the scene of a forest fire along Ostrea Lake Road, which is located near Musquodoboit Harbour.
Late Sunday afternoon, the Department of Natural Resources posted that the size of the fire is estimated at 35 hectares. It said the department had 12 firefighters on the scene and a helicopter.
Police said the evacuated residents from the 600 block of Ostrea Lake Road, including adjoining roads, to Highway 7. The No. 7 highway had been closed to traffic from Pond Road to Strike Lane for a time in the afternoon, but RCMP said the highway would reopen by evening.
According to David Hendsbee, the municipal councillor for the area, the fire began around 1 p.m. AT.
He’s monitoring the situation from the Foodland in Head of Jeddore, where he said the air is smoky.
He estimates at least 100 homes in the area have been evacuated.
“I just ask people to be patient during this time,” he said. “The RCMP and the fire department are doing the best they can do. Traffic could be an issue.”
In a release around 4:50 p.m., the municipality said a comfort centre has been established at the Eastern Shore Community Centre in Musquodoboit Harbour for those impacted by the fire.
Reflection Lane, Heselton Drive, Birchwood Lane, Laila Lane, Sunset Lane, and Ostrea Lake Road, from civic number 607 to the north, up to Highway 7, have been evacuated, the municipality said.
HRM said those close to the fire should shut all windows and doors, turn off air exchangers and stay inside until air quality improves.
Around 5:30 p.m., the Halifax Professional Fire Fighters association issued a statement that said fire conditions are “serious, fuelled by thick brush, dry vegetation, and gusty winds.” It said crews have been pulled from the woods for safety reasons and are focused on protecting structures.
Mike Palmer lives in a home affected by the evacuation order. He was out getting groceries when the order happened, so his partner has been alone gathering necessities before leaving.
When Palmer spoke with CBC News, he said he wasn’t allowed to go home despite being only 140 metres away from his front door.
“I feel very stressed. I feel helpless,” said Palmer, who moved to the area from Ontario six months ago.
‘Definitely a forest fire I smelled,’ says business owner
Ronnie Poan owns a bowling alley, UnBOWLievable Lanes, located on Strike Lane. He said he could smell smoke around 1 p.m. AT.
“I was thinking that’s awful weird for somebody to have a fire in the house today because it’s warm out, not because it’s cold,” he said. “But it was … definitely a forest fire I smelled.”
Poan said the bowling alley was holding a youth club banquet today. He said some people stayed behind because they couldn’t head home with traffic only moving in one direction on Highway 7 before the road reopened.
🔥 OSTREA LAKE WILDFIRE – UPDATE 3 🔥
RCMP are currently handling evacuations in the Ostrea Lake area. At this time, no additional evacuation orders have been issued beyond those already in place.
The fire remains active and out of control, with air support continuing… pic.twitter.com/1qiELZaQMT
The public is being advised to avoid the area. A burn ban is currently in effect in Halifax County.
Environment Canada is forecasting rain for the area for the next several hours. “I don’t see anything yet, but bring it on,” said Hendsbee, who was waiting for the rain to come.
