This year, Nova Scotia crews responded to more than 110 wildfires that burned 1,521 hectares, although much of the damage was confined to one spot in Halifax County. The province says there 114 wildfires between March 15 and Oct. 15. The most significant fire was near Mooseland Road last July, which grew to 1,444 hectares and prompted evacuations. That fire burned for two weeks before it was deemed under control by the Department of Natural Resources. While this summer was quieter for overall wildfires compared to 2025 – which had 148 fires that burned 8,114 hectares – the province noted it recorded twice as many fires by mid-July this year compared to the same time last year. The province cites rainfall for helping ease the situation for the rest of the season. The Nova Scotia government spent $6.5 million on four Air Tractor AT-802 water bombers and one Cessna Caravan Bird Dog co-ordination plane. The water bombers made 84 drops on four wildfires this year, 68 of which were on the Mooseland Road fire. The province is also spending $6.8 million on its wildfire response for the 2026-2027 budget. “We can’t control the weather, but we can make sure we are ready for wildfires when they happen,” said Minister of Natural Resources Tory Rushton in a news release. “Our expanded air fleet helped us reach fires quickly, while the skill and dedication of air and ground crews and our partner agencies were critical to the response. “I want to thank them, as well as Nova Scotians, who supported their work by following daily burn restrictions and using caution.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
