Canadian emergency officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for parts of Bedford, Nova Scotia, after authorities noted a new wildfire and the potential for an ammonia leak. The evacuation order covers residents in the Hammonds Plains area of the city, including those on Hammonds Plains Road, from the intersection of Giles to the intersection of Larry Utek Drive. Residents in the area are urged to leave their homes, and those who live in apartments or condos should be prepared to leave as well, according to a statement from the city. The fire, aided by strong winds and tinder-dry woods, damaged dozens of homes and has forced schools to shut their doors.
The fire, located on the outskirts of Halifax in the Shelburne County community of Barrington Lake, has burned through over 1,947 acres as of Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters have been working to keep the blaze in check, but the fire continues to grow. “As the wind continues to pick up, we will continue to work in tandem with our firefighting partners and the province to try to keep these raging wildfires in check,” the mayor of Halifax, Mike Savage, said in a statement.
A spokesman for the provincial government said that officials have been working with the mayor to assist displaced residents. “The government of Nova Scotia has provided funding to assist those whose homes have been affected by the wildfire in Shelburne County,” he said. He added that the Canadian Red Cross, a non-government agency, would administer the money.
An official for the Halifax Regional Municipality said that residents whose homes have been evacuated due to still-raging wildfires in Tantallon and Shelburne County can now register for financial relief. “We ask those who have been evacuated to visit the website of the Halifax Regional Municipality and fill out an online application,” the spokesman said.
Wildfires have been a constant threat in Nova Scotia for the past several years, with drought conditions contributing to an unusually high number of wildfires in recent years. Kara McCurdy, a fire prevention officer with the province of Nova Scotia, told CBC News that the early snow melt and warmer winter combined with the lack of rain have drawn out fuels ready to burn.
A spokesman for the provincial government said the fire in Shelburne County is currently burning through over 1,947 acres, with firefighters trying to keep it in control. The blaze is also causing power outages and destroying buildings in Halifax. “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by these fires,” the mayor of Halifax, Mike Savage, told reporters on Monday. “Our resources are stretched incredibly thin right now.” Smoke from the fires is spreading into the United States, and cities along the Northeast coast can expect heavy smoke for the next few days, according to weather officials.
