Bayers Lake wildfire under control, community outpatient centre reopens

A wildfire is seen burning in the Bayers Lake area of Halifax on Aug. 12, 2025. (Submitted: Kirk Shand)

A wildfire that has been burning since Tuesday in the Bayers Lake business park and shopping district of Halifax is under control.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said in a Friday evening update the fire, which is estimated to be at 15 hectares, is now under control.

Twenty DNR crew members and 15 Halifax Fire and Emergency firefighters are still at the scene to extinguish the fire.

The fire started around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the woods behind a building on Julius Boulevard and Dugger McNeil Drive near Susies Lake.

At one point, it was estimated to be about 25 to 30 hectares in size.

The cause is still under investigation, but the province confirmed Wednesday it was started by human activity.

Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre reopens

Nova Scotia Health says the Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre will reopen Friday.

The centre, which offers medical services and clinics, had been closed since it was evacuated Tuesday afternoon.

Any appointments that were already rescheduled or relocated to other sites will remain at those new times and locations.

Mandatory evacuation order lifted Thursday

The mandatory evacuation order for businesses in the plaza on the west side of Chain Lake Drive, between the off-ramp for Highway 2 to Julius Boulevard, was lifted Thursday morning.

However, Julius Boulevard, from the intersection with Dugger McNeil Drive to the intersection with Susie Lake Crescent, remains closed due to the firefighting efforts.

Access to Susie Lake Crescent is available via Chain Lake Drive.

Halifax Transit’s Route 28 Bayers Lake returned to regular routing after the mandatory evacuation order was lifted.

Other Nova Scotia wildfires

There are several other wildfires burning in the province, including a large one near Long Lake in West Dalhousie, N.S.

As of Friday afternoon, the fire is measuring 406 hectares and is still considered out of control.

DNR says 44 crew members and 60 local firefighters are on scene along with one DNR helicopter and two contracted helicopters.

More residents in the area were told evacuate their homes “immediately” Thursday evening.

The initial evacuation order, which was issued Thursday morning, applies to people living at civic addresses #4094 to #5315 West Dalhousie Road. Officials say it affects roughly 42 homes.

The expanded evacuation order applies to the Dalhousie Road intersection to 484 Morse Rd.; 4530 to 6186 West Dalhousie Rd.; 2648 to 3408 Thorne Rd.; and 122, 126 and 126-Unit 2 Medicraft Ln.

The Durland Lake Brook fire, which is part of the Long Lake complex, is still estimated at 0.5 hectares and is being held.

A wildfire near Hoyt Lake is still one hectare and is also being held.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Andrea Jerrett and Sean Mott

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page