Nova Scotia extending wildfire season to end of October

Firefighter Oryan Curry of Annapolis Royal hoses down a hot spot from a wildfire in West Dalhousie, N.S. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia)

The Nova Scotia government is extending the official wildfire season by more than two weeks due to ongoing blazes across the province.

The government says the end of the wildfire season has been pushed to Oct. 31. It typically ends on Oct. 15. Daily burn restrictions – along with the full burn ban in Annapolis County – will remain in effect.

“We have never seen wildfire activity so late in the season, so we’re taking this step to help keep our people and our communities safe,” said Tory Rushton, minister of Natural Resources, in a news release. “The daily burn restrictions are based on science, data and our staff’s expertise and experience. Extending the restrictions to the end of the month means we’ll have a better chance of avoiding more fires.”

Crews have been battling the Long Lake wildfire for nearly two months. Just as they brought the 8,468-hectare fire under control last week, another wildfire broke out at Lake George in Kings County, reaching an estimated 290 hectares.

The province notes it extended the wildfire season by a week in 2016 due to drought conditions.

Burning will not be permitted anywhere in Nova Scotia from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at which point the province will release the daily restrictions.

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

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page