Halifax wildfire that prompted evacuations is being held, officials say
But the update, posted at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, said firefighters would remain overnight at the scene of the fire near Susies Lake, which is about 10 kilometres west of downtown Halifax.
The Halifax Regional Municipality said the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources estimated that the blaze remained around 15 hectares in size.
The Susies Lake fire erupted on Tuesday afternoon close to businesses and homes in the Bayers Lake area and prompted the evacuation of three businesses in the Bayers Lake business park.
It also forced a hardware store and restaurant to close and an outpatient clinic in the Susies Lake area was also shut.
The latest update said the mandatory evacuations of all businesses in the plaza on the west side of Chain Lake Drive remained in place.
Story continues below advertisement
Earlier Wednesday, Scott Tingley with the Natural Resources Department told reporters that the blaze was caused by human activity and an open fire pit was found at the scene of the fire.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
'There was nobody in the area when crews arrived on the scene, that makes it impossible to hold the person or people responsible to account,' Tingley said at a news briefing. 'That's frustrating to everyone.'
Open fires are banned across Nova Scotia and violations come with a $25,000 fine. The province has also banned hiking, fishing and using vehicles in the woods, as well as any camping outside of designated camp sites. Anyone caught breaking the rules will face the same $25,000 punishment.
Twelve people have been fined since last week, Premier Tim Houston told reporters.
'It's certainly my hope that every single one of those is fully prosecuted and collected. It's just too serious of a situation right now,' Houston said.
Tingley said firefighters in the province had responded to 17 reports of wildfires in the past day.
Firefighters were able to suppress and extinguish 'a number of them quite easily' which allowed them to focus resources on the larger fires that require more attention, Tingley said.
'Why are we getting these fires? It's dry, and unfortunately there's activities out there that are happening that shouldn't be,' he said.
Story continues below advertisement
Houston said there's been no loss of life or of structures thanks to the efforts of Nova Scotia's firefighters.
'The main reason we haven't had a catastrophe yet is our firefighters. They're stretched very, very thin right now … they've done an amazing job,' he said.
The premier stressed that the 'province is a tinder box' and urged Nova Scotians to take the wildfire restrictions seriously.
'I get that people want to go for a hike or want to go for walk in the woods with their dog. But how would you like to be stuck in the woods while there's a fire burning around you?'
Houston added that there's no significant rain in the forecast, and that as a result it's likely going to be 'a long next few weeks.'
— With files from Brieanna Charlebois in Vancouver
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
5 days ago
- Global News
Helicopter crashes fighting Nova Scotia wildfire, pilot ‘conscious and talking'
A helicopter involved in fighting a major Nova Scotia wildfire has crashed in shallow water, authorities say, with the pilot reportedly conscious. The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources said the crash happened just before 4:30 p.m. on Friday and involved a helicopter fighting the Long Lake wildfires. A brief statement said the helicopter had crashed in the water. 'The pilot was conscious and talking with firefighters who quickly reached the aircraft,' the statement read. 'By 6 p.m. he was rescued from his aircraft and taken for medical assessment.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The government said it would not be releasing the pilot's name. 'I'm relieved the pilot was rescued quickly and wish them a speedy recovery,' Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston wrote in a social media post. Story continues below advertisement 'Thank you to everyone who responded so quickly to reach the aircraft and provide support.' The helicopter and its pilot were part of a massive wildfire-fighting operation in the Annapolis Valley, concentrating on Long Lake, where 50 homes have been evacuated. Long Lake Wildfire spokesperson Dave Steeves previously told reporters that there has been some extreme fire behaviour connected to the wildfire over the past day and a half. 'Our flame lengths were quite high, which is an indicator to basically how dangerous the situation is that our crews were dealing with on the ground,' he said. 'Things have dropped back a little bit, but there is still the potential for things to get dangerous very, very quickly.' — with files from Global News' Kevin Nielson
Global News
6 days ago
- Global News
Halifax wildfire that prompted evacuations is being held, officials say
A wildfire on the western outskirts of Halifax that had prompted evacuations is now being held, Nova Scotia officials say. But the update, posted at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, said firefighters would remain overnight at the scene of the fire near Susies Lake, which is about 10 kilometres west of downtown Halifax. The Halifax Regional Municipality said the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources estimated that the blaze remained around 15 hectares in size. The Susies Lake fire erupted on Tuesday afternoon close to businesses and homes in the Bayers Lake area and prompted the evacuation of three businesses in the Bayers Lake business park. It also forced a hardware store and restaurant to close and an outpatient clinic in the Susies Lake area was also shut. The latest update said the mandatory evacuations of all businesses in the plaza on the west side of Chain Lake Drive remained in place. Story continues below advertisement Earlier Wednesday, Scott Tingley with the Natural Resources Department told reporters that the blaze was caused by human activity and an open fire pit was found at the scene of the fire. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'There was nobody in the area when crews arrived on the scene, that makes it impossible to hold the person or people responsible to account,' Tingley said at a news briefing. 'That's frustrating to everyone.' Open fires are banned across Nova Scotia and violations come with a $25,000 fine. The province has also banned hiking, fishing and using vehicles in the woods, as well as any camping outside of designated camp sites. Anyone caught breaking the rules will face the same $25,000 punishment. Twelve people have been fined since last week, Premier Tim Houston told reporters. 'It's certainly my hope that every single one of those is fully prosecuted and collected. It's just too serious of a situation right now,' Houston said. Tingley said firefighters in the province had responded to 17 reports of wildfires in the past day. Firefighters were able to suppress and extinguish 'a number of them quite easily' which allowed them to focus resources on the larger fires that require more attention, Tingley said. 'Why are we getting these fires? It's dry, and unfortunately there's activities out there that are happening that shouldn't be,' he said. Story continues below advertisement Houston said there's been no loss of life or of structures thanks to the efforts of Nova Scotia's firefighters. 'The main reason we haven't had a catastrophe yet is our firefighters. They're stretched very, very thin right now … they've done an amazing job,' he said. The premier stressed that the 'province is a tinder box' and urged Nova Scotians to take the wildfire restrictions seriously. 'I get that people want to go for a hike or want to go for walk in the woods with their dog. But how would you like to be stuck in the woods while there's a fire burning around you?' Houston added that there's no significant rain in the forecast, and that as a result it's likely going to be 'a long next few weeks.' — With files from Brieanna Charlebois in Vancouver
Globe and Mail
12-08-2025
- Globe and Mail
Houston Wills Attorney Whitney L. Thompson Offers Insight on Inheriting Property Without Probating a Will
For families navigating the legal complexities of inheritance, knowing when probate is necessary can make a critical difference. Houston wills attorney Whitney L. Thompson ( of The Law Office of Whitney L. Thompson, PLLC, offers important guidance for Texans wondering if they can inherit property without undergoing the full probate process. In her article 'Can I Inherit Property Without Probating a Will?', Houston wills attorney Whitney L. Thompson clarifies that not all property transfers require formal probate. 'The truth is, there are situations where probate isn't required,' she writes, explaining that assets such as jointly owned property, accounts with named beneficiaries, and those held in a trust may be transferred without court involvement. Houston wills attorney Whitney L. Thompson emphasizes that understanding whether an asset is classified as 'probate' or 'non-probate' is the first critical step in determining how property will pass. Probate assets, like real estate titled only in the deceased's name or accounts with no beneficiary designation, require a court-supervised process to transfer ownership. In contrast, non-probate assets are designed to transfer automatically upon death, allowing families to bypass the court system altogether. Still, Thompson cautions against assuming that a valid will eliminates the need for probate. In Texas, a will holds no legal authority until it is admitted to probate by a court. 'A will is just a piece of paper until it's probated,' she explains. Without court validation, even clearly expressed wishes in a will cannot be legally enforced, and ownership of titled assets remains frozen in the name of the deceased. For those who delay, there is a crucial deadline: Texas law requires that a will be probated within four years of the decedent's death. Missing this deadline can lead to serious consequences, including the loss of inheritance rights and a reversion to state intestacy laws that distribute assets according to a fixed statutory formula. However, a narrow statutory exception allows for late probate filings if the applicant can prove they were 'not in default,' a standard that requires case-specific evidence and court approval. In addition to explaining the risks of failing to probate, Thompson outlines several tools that Texans can use to inherit property outside of probate. These include the Muniment of Title, a simplified process that allows courts to admit a will without appointing an executor; the Small Estate Affidavit, which is designed for modest estates with limited assets; and the Affidavit of Heirship, used primarily to establish title for real property when no will exists. Each method comes with specific eligibility requirements and limitations. For instance, Muniment of Title is only available when the estate has no unsecured debts and no outstanding Medicaid recovery claims. Likewise, the Small Estate Affidavit is capped at estates valued under $75,000, excluding exempt property such as retirement accounts and household items. Thompson also highlights that proactive planning is the most effective way to avoid probate altogether. Instruments such as revocable living trusts, Transfer on Death Deeds (TODD), and Lady Bird Deeds enable property to transfer automatically upon death. These tools not only streamline the inheritance process but also provide privacy and flexibility. Even when a valid will exists, certain financial institutions may still require a full probate process before releasing assets. As Thompson notes, 'Some banks or financial institutions may still require formal probate documents, creating practical hurdles despite the legal validity of the affidavit'. Her approach to wills and estate planning combines clarity with compassion. Drawing from her experience and commitment to family-centered legal service, Thompson offers readers a realistic view of their options, especially during emotionally difficult times. Her emphasis is not just on legal compliance but on helping families avoid confusion, disputes, and unnecessary expenses. Many people dealing with the death of a loved one are already overwhelmed. Adding legal complications can make the grieving process more difficult. Thompson and her team at The Law Office of Whitney L. Thompson, PLLC, strive to make estate planning and probate navigation understandable and manageable. Navigating probate laws in Texas requires more than general information—it calls for practical advice tailored to individual situations. Families unsure about whether probate is necessary, or who are looking for ways to transfer property efficiently and lawfully, can benefit from understanding their full range of options. Those with questions about probate, inheritance rights, or estate planning tools are encouraged to seek legal guidance. Whitney L. Thompson is available to help clients review their situation and take the necessary steps to protect their family's future. About The Law Office of Whitney L. Thompson, PLLC: The Law Office of Whitney L. Thompson, PLLC serves clients throughout the Houston area in matters related to wills, probate, and estate planning. Led by attorney Whitney L. Thompson, the firm focuses on helping individuals and families make legally sound decisions that support their long-term goals and provide peace of mind. Embeds: GMB: Email and website Email: info@ Website: Media Contact Company Name: The Law Office of Whitney L. Thompson, PLLC Contact Person: Whitney L. Thompson Email: Send Email Phone: (281) 214-0173 Address: 4201 Farm to Market 1960 Rd W Suite 360 City: Houston State: Texas 77068 Country: United States Website:
