More evacuees to return home as Long Lake wildfire in N.S. now being held

More than a dozen households can return home after evacuating due to the Long Lake, N.S., wildfire.

More evacuees will be allowed to return home on Tuesday as the Long Lake wildfire in West Dalhousie, N.S., is now being held.

“That means the fire is not likely to grow or move as long as conditions do not change,” explained the Nova Scotia government in a news release Monday.

“It is still not under control and could still grow if conditions change, but the risk is low for the area where residents are allowed to return.”

The fire, which first started burning on Aug. 13, had been considered out of control until Monday. The province says the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) considers factors like current fire behaviour, air quality and road access when changing a wildfire’s status.

“This past week our crews worked very hard from the ground and the air to continue to try to contain this wildfire at Long Lake,” said Jim Rudderham, DNR’s director of fleet and forest protection, during a media briefing Monday afternoon.

“They were tested a little bit on Saturday with the weather, but all the work that they did through the week in containment held, and they’re quite happy about that.”

Rudderham said the weekend rain did help with firefighting efforts – noting a rain gauge at the West Dalhousie Community Centre captured 9 mm – but crews are still hoping for more.

He said more rain could allow officials to lift the woods ban still in effect in some parts of the province, but “we’re not there yet.”

“We still need everyone’s help to keep the rest of the province safe while we work to get the Long Lake wildfire under control,” said Rudderham.

A provincewide fire ban also remains in effect.

There are no air quality statements or warnings in effect in Annapolis County on Monday.

More evacuees to return home

Now that the status of the fire has changed, evacuees from 22 addresses, including 19 residences, will be allowed to return home on Tuesday:

• 484 to 1073 Morse Road
• 4272 and 4291 Thorne Road
• 49, 77 and 321 Neaves Road

“Thank you for all the work that all of the different departments on this forest fire has done. It’s just truly astonishing the amount of work that’s been completed, really, as fast as it has been,” said Dustin Enslow, deputy warden of Annapolis County, during Monday’s briefing.

Residents are asked to arrive at the 1073 Morse Road checkpoint between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. They will need to show a valid piece of ID proving their civic address before re-entry. Seasonal residents can show a power bill with their address and a valid ID.

The province says power will be restored once people are back in their homes and extra waste collection has been arranged for Thursday.

“I’m relieved that more residents can return home, after weeks of uncertainty. But we know that this isn’t over for everyone,” said Kim Masland, minister of Emergency Management, in the news release.

“Many people still remain under evacuation, with homes still in the active wildfire area. To those still waiting: we are doing everything we can to bring you home safely as soon as possible.

About 110 civic addresses from the initial evacuation order are not yet safe for re-entry:

• the section of West Dalhousie Road from Che-Boag-A-Nish Road to Meadow Road
• all of Heartland Road and Medicraft Lane
• addresses on Thorne Road not listed above

Rudderham noted the Long Lake wildfire is still active, with “heavy” activity in some areas. He said the fire will likely have to be considered under control before the remaining residents can return home.

“We’re asking the people that are still to remain under the evacuation order … please be patient,” said Enslow. “We are working diligently with the province and the province is doing some phenomenal work and this truly shows, the announcement that we have today, that they are the true experts. So please be patient with us as we continue to move through this process.”

People at about 360 civic addresses were allowed to return home last week.

“I know last week when we were able to let people … return home it was a huge morale booster and this will just continue that,” said Enslow.

‘Starting to feel quite good’

The Long Lake wildfire remains at 8,468 hectares. Scott Tingley, DNR’s manager of forest protection, said crews are working their way from the perimeter inwards, securing more areas inside the wildfire.

“We’re starting to feel quite good about the status of the fire,” said Tingley.

The following resources were on scene at Long Lake on Monday:

• 11 helicopters
• four planes and a bird dog
• 40 DNR staff
• 18 firefighters from Ontario
• 60 firefighters from Quebec
• 10 pieces of heavy equipment

There are no new reports of damage. The province previously confirmed that 20 homes from the initial evacuation zone have been destroyed and 11 outbuildings have also been damaged or destroyed.

Woods ban still in effect in some areas

The ban on entering the woods remains in effect in the following counties:

• Pictou
• Colchester
• Cumberland
• Hants
• Lunenburg
• Kings
• Annapolis
• Queens
• Shelburne
• Digby
• Yarmouth

The Nova Scotia government says the ban will remain in place in those areas until Oct. 15 or until conditions have improved enough for them to be lifted.

Nova Scotia first introduced a ban on entering the woods on Aug. 5.

A burn ban, which started on July 30, is still in effect across the province.

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

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page