Wildfire fire at Long Lake grows to more than 800 hectares

CBC

15 hours ago

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The fire at Long Lake in Annapolis County has grown to more than 800 hectares — nearly doubling in size since Friday — prompting the area municipality to issue a local state of emergency.
Meanwhile, a helicopter pilot involved in a crash on Friday at the wildfire scene is "doing well," the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources said in a series of social media posts Saturday.
A media conference is planned for Saturday afternoon.
"Our pilot is doing well and we appreciate the outpouring of support from Nova Scotians," the province said. "Our crews on the ground are doing well and keeping up the fight on the fire."
Two contracted helicopters are part of the firefighting effort at Long Lake today. There are 44 Natural Resources firefighters, another five from P.E.I., and 30 from the local area.
State of local emergency
As the wildfires near West Dalhousie, N.S., continue to burn out of control, the Municipality of the County of Annapolis has declared a state of local emergency.
A news release from the municipality said the measure is being taken to protect the health, safety and welfare of people in the area.
"During this time, residents are expected to follow all official instructions and directives from emergency officials," the release says.
"The declaration also prohibits the inflation of prices for essential goods and services, ensuring residents have fair access to what they need during this crisis."
According to the release, the state of local emergency remains in effect for seven days unless renewed or terminated.
A fire in the Upper Hoyt Lake/Lower Hoyt Lake area, also in Annapolis County, is listed as being held at one hectare.
More than 100 houses have been evacuated near West Dalhousie, affecting 215 people.
One family was surprised to learn they had to evacuate on Thursday.
Meghan Yeo and her husband, Michael Zeeman, received an evacuation order to leave their house on Morse Road.
"We weren't actually expecting to be evacuated because the fire seemed to be shifting away from us. We couldn't even see smoke," she said on Friday. "And then, at 7:40 p.m., we got the evacuation notice."
She is pregnant and due next month, and says she was scrambling to pack essentials from the baby nursery after she received the evacuation order.
The couple was able to get themselves and their pets out of the house. They are staying with a friend, waiting for updates on the fire and hoping for the best.
The evacuation order currently in place applies to:
The Dalhousie Road intersection to 484 Morse Rd.
West Dalhousie Road from civic addresses 4530 to 6186.
Thorn Road from civic addresses 2648 to 3408.
Medicraft Lane with the civic addresses 122, 126 and 126 Unit 2.
The wildfire at Susies Lake is under control. Personnel from the Department of Natural Resources and the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services are back on the scene on Saturday.
Another wildfire in Pictou County, near McIntosh Lake, was detected as of Friday and it is not under control. It has so far burned less than a hectare.