A wildfire that damaged or destroyed dozens of homes in suburban Halifax was still not under control as of midday Monday due to gusty weather and dry weather.
Halifax Deputy Fire Chief David Meldrum estimated around 14,000 people were ordered to flee their homes when the fast-spreading blaze broke out in Tantallon on Sunday afternoon. 30 minute drive northwest of downtown Halifax.
“It’s a big fire,” he told a news conference on Monday near a command post in Tantallon, confirming that no injuries had been reported. “But we don’t yet know the size of this fire. »
Mr Meldrum added that the wind had changed direction overnight and was now blowing from the north, which means the fire is turning on itself and could start new fires in large subdivisions on the outskirts of the city. city.
Volunteer firefighter Brett Tetanish held back tears Monday as he described his arrival Sunday evening at the scene of a fire at a home in the Westwood subdivision, where the first fires were reported around 3 p.m.
“There were fires on both sides of the road, burning buildings. There were abandoned and burnt cars in the middle of the road, ”he said in an interview given in front of the command post where the firefighters were assigned to their tasks.
The worst fire in 32 years
Mr Tetanish, a fire captain who works full-time as an electrician, said the wildfire was the worst he had seen in 32 years of firefighting. ” I ache all over […] My joints hurt, my back hurts, and I think the rest of my team feels pretty much the same,” he said.
Meanwhile, wildfire technicians reviewed footage captured by drones over the area Monday morning, Chief Meldrum said.
“They tell us there could still be a significant fire, although the fire may turn around and go back to where it came from,” he explained. “There is still a lot of unburned fuel in the area […] which could rekindle. »
While precipitation is not expected anytime soon, Meldrum believes it may take the rest of the week to bring the flames under control. “We have a lot of work to do today, this week — for several days,” he said. “Residents should be prepared to stay out of their homes for at least several days. »
About 100 firefighters are working to contain the blaze, and two helicopters from the provincial Department of Natural Resources will be joined Monday by two water bombers from Newfoundland and Labrador.
“On the streets, the damage is not equal,” Meldrum said. “It’s normal with a forest fire: on a street, perfectly fine houses can be close to others that are damaged or completely destroyed. »
Firefighters who worked overnight, however, managed to stop the blaze from spreading north past two main roads in the area, Meldrum said.
However, it was reported that some people had to be rescued from their homes as the fire got closer.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday morning that he had spoken to local MPs, that he was scheduled to speak with Prime Minister Tim Houston that afternoon, and that Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, liaised with officials on site.
“The federal government is going to be there to help with whatever is needed,” Trudeau promised.