(Halifax) As firefighters spent a second day battling a wildfire in suburban Halifax on Monday in Nova Scotia, some residents of evacuated areas received grim news that their homes were among those that had been destroyed by the flames, fueled by the gusts.
Authorities said the blaze, which was still not under control on Monday, started in the nearby Upper Tantallon area on Sunday. The fire destroyed or damaged dozens of homes, although no deaths or injuries have been reported so far.
Halifax Deputy Fire Chief David Meldrum said around 14,000 people had been ordered to leave their homes, most about 30 minutes’ drive northwest of downtown Halifax .
Later in the day, Chief Meldrum said firefighters were focused on battling spot fires in residential areas to protect buildings and prevent the fire from spreading.
“This fire was not brought under control. [Mais] today it has not spread noticeably and that is thanks to the weather, the work of the firefighters on the ground and the work of the air units,” he said. However, he points out that a change in the weather forecast for Tuesday could complicate matters.
We expect what we don’t want: strong winds tomorrow, maybe a change in direction and reduced humidity, he said. These factors together increase the risk that these fires will reignite and spread more quickly.
David Steeves, a forest resources technician with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, said the fire was helped by a lack of rain and a thick softwood forested area, which provide a volatile fuel source. “It was perfect conditions for a fast and dangerous fire,” he explained.
In the early afternoon, the Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed that the forest fire covered about eight square kilometers and that the wind was blowing from the north at up to 40 km / h, making its progress dangerous and unpredictable.
No additional evacuations were also ordered on Monday, despite difficult conditions. Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said the evacuation perimeter around the blaze hasn’t widened since Sunday, despite harsh conditions.
“It creates some hope that this situation may have stabilized, but it is a dangerous situation, admitted the mayor during a press conference. Many residents will suffer significant losses. »
Lost dog and cat
Katherine Tarateski was one of them. “The police called me this morning to say they had gone to look at our house and it had been burned down – and they couldn’t find our pets,” she said. in an interview on Monday afternoon.
Mme Tarateski said she was with her husband and young daughter at a family gathering on Sunday when they heard of the approaching fires and rushed to their home in Hammonds Plains to save their dog and cat . But when they got there, the police had already blocked their street.
Mayor Savage had declared a local state of emergency on Sunday evening for areas already under mandatory evacuation orders, which Monday covered an area of about 100 square kilometers.
A total of around 200 firefighters were battling the blaze on Monday. While rain was not expected anytime soon, Deputy Chief Meldrum believes the blazes may not be contained by the end of the week.
“We have a lot of work to do today, this week – for several days,” he said. Residents should be prepared to stay away from home for at least several days. »
“In the streets, the damage is not equal,” said Mr. Meldrum. This is normal with a forest fire: on a street, perfectly fine houses may be close to others that are damaged or completely destroyed. »
Seven more fires in Nova Scotia
Outside of the Halifax area, seven other wildfires were still burning Monday, including the 62-square-kilometre Lake Barrington Fire in Shelburne County. The fire in southwestern Nova Scotia was still not under control Monday, and more than 400 people had been evacuated from their homes.
“Some buildings have been destroyed and others are at risk, but there are no exact details on the numbers yet,” the Ministry of Natural Resources said in a statement, confirming that 80 firefighters were assisted by a bomber in Newfoundland and Labrador water.
Premier Tim Houston announced Monday that the province will provide $500, through the Red Cross, to each household evacuated in the Halifax and Shelburne County area.
The Prime Minister also announced that his government would pay for the mileage of volunteer firefighters who travel to another community to fight the fires. He also imposed a province-wide burning ban until June 25 for any area within 300 meters of a wooded area.
In Ottawa on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had spoken to local MPs, that he was scheduled for an afternoon meeting with Prime Minister Houston, and that Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, was in liaison with the officials on site. “The federal government is going to be there to help with whatever is needed,” Trudeau promised.
Wildfires in southwestern New Brunswick force the evacuation of 400 homes
About 400 homes in southwestern New Brunswick have been evacuated due to wildfires that started Sunday after an all-terrain vehicle burned.
St. Andrews Mayor Brad Henderson said in an interview that the fires were burning near the towns of Bocabec and Chamcook, and the flames had destroyed a home.
It said that despite the efforts of dozens of firefighters, the fires were still burning at a “worrying” level.
The mayor said fire crews were called immediately to the ATV blaze on Sunday, but dry weather and overnight winds helped the flames spread quickly, forming several blazes.
Mayor Henderson stresses that officials do not expect evacuated citizens to be able to return home Monday night.
Saint-Andrews is at the end of a small peninsula, about five kilometers south of Chamcook and 14 km southwest of Bocabec.