Halifax-area wildfire now under control, DNR says

The Department of Natural Resources says a wildfire that began in the Tantallon, N.S., area Wednesday is being held.

A wildfire in the Tantallon, N.S., area is now under control.

Halifax Fire and Emergency, along with the Department of Natural Resources, first responded to the Pipeline Road area, near Head of St. Margarets Bay and the south end of Big Indian Lake, Wednesday afternoon.

Halifax Professional Fire Fighters said at the time the fire was not advancing and ground crews were working to gain access to the area, which was described as remote and heavily-wooded.

A DNR helicopter also conducted water drops on the fire.

At 5:40 p.m., the municipality sent out an alert saying there was “no threat to residents or structures at this time,” adding efforts were “holding the fire.”

The fire was estimated to be 0.5 hectares.

Around 9 p.m., DNR said the wildfire was being held. The department said the fire was not growing, but was then estimated to be about 1.2 hectares.

The municipality said most crews left the scene around 8:30 p.m. and DNR staff would monitor conditions overnight.

DNR returned in the morning and said the fire was not growing and estimated to still be about 1.2 hectares.

On Thursday evening, DNR said the wildfire was under control. Ground crews will stay on the scene for the next few days to fully extinguish the fire and put out hotspots.

Burn ban

Nova Scotia implemented a provincewide burn ban Wednesday afternoon, citing hot, dry conditions as the reason. The ban applies to all private property and provincial lands.

The ban will remain in place until Oct. 15, which is the end of wildfire season, or until conditions improve.

The fine for violating the ban is $25,000.

The ban applies to open fires such as:

• campfires
• bonfires
• brush fires
• fires in chimeneas
• any other fire that is not enclosed and uses wood as the fuel

The province says non-woodburning devices like charcoal and gas barbecues and gas stoves are allowed to be used.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Melanie Price and Sean Mott

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page