Scattered showers in parts of Nova Scotia brought light relief Friday morning to a province still struggling with one of its worst wildfire seasons on record.
However, Halifax-area fire officials say the light rain is far from sufficient.
According to Dave Steeves, forestry technician with the Department of Natural Resources, small embers can hide, come to the surface and ignite again.
Nevertheless, the forecast announces regular rains from Friday evening to Saturday. Meanwhile, the morale of firefighters who spent a hot, dry Thursday putting out spot fires in the Halifax area is holding strong, according to Deputy Fire Chief Dave Meldrum.
Later Friday, buses are expected to begin transporting evacuated residents to see what remains of their homes in the area near Upper Tantallon and Hammonds Plains.
About 200 structures, including 151 homes, were destroyed in the Halifax area.
In total, more than 16,000 people were evacuated from their homes and businesses. The fire that affects the suburbs of Halifax remains uncontrolled, even though 50% of it had been contained Thursday evening.
In the southwest of the province, a much larger wildfire continued to burn and was not contained in Shelburne County, where 6,700 people were evacuated from their homes, about half the population of the municipality.
Despite the best efforts of firefighters, the Barrington Lake fire in Shelburne County now covers more than 200 square kilometers – the largest recorded wildfire in Nova Scotia history. It has consumed 50 homes and cabins since Saturday.
While a small amount of rain fell in the Halifax area, no rain was reported in Shelburne County, where there are concerns about the possibility of thunderstorms bringing lightning Friday afternoon . Mr Steeves claimed that lightning would immobilize all aircraft and make the situation dangerous for ground crew.
Six more water bombers are due to arrive from the United States on Friday and over the weekend, and an unknown number of firefighters from the United States and Costa Rica were on their way to help fight the blazes, the minister said. of Natural Resources, Tory Rushton.
The federal government announced Thursday that more than 300 firefighters from the United States and South Africa are heading to Canada to battle what has become an unprecedented wildfire season.
Ottawa also announced Thursday that it is setting up a matching gift program with Nova Scotia and the Canadian Red Cross to support those affected by the wildfires in the province.
In Halifax, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed that 10 tickets had recently been issued to people who violated a provincial ban on outdoor fires.
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said at least two people in the city have been fined for violating a province-wide fire ban. One was caught lighting leaves with a propane torch and another had started a bonfire.