21 hours ago
Crews battling forest fire near Bayers Lake
Halifax residents are being asked to avoid the Bayers Lake Business Park as firefighters battle a wildfire in the area.
Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed it's responding to a wildfire near Susie Lake, which is located in Bayers Lake.
A commercial building on Dugger McNeil Drive is being evacuated. Other businesses in the area have told CBC News they have been asked to evacuate as well.
DNR said its helicopter and four aerial air tanker planes from New Brunswick are heading to Bayers Lake now.
The size of the fire is not yet known.
Halifax Regional Police told CBC News it's on scene supporting firefighters.
They're are assisting with evacuations and asking people to stay away from the Bayers Lake area. Police said some streets have been closed, including Chain Lake Drive.
"Lessening the traffic congestion will help crews respond to the fire and allow those evacuating to leave safely," police told CBC News in an email.
Nova Scotia Health confirmed the Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre is being evacuated and that the facility's emergency response plans are being activated. Anyone with an appointment scheduled for the remainder of the day should not attend.
Veronica MacIsaac was out for lunch at Jack Astor's in Bayers Lake when a friend spotted the smoke.
"Behind the side of Bayers Lake where the Giant Tiger would be, there was just a huge big cloud of smoke and it very quickly was spreading through the restaurant," MacIsaac told CBC News.
"And people were quickly paying their bills and trying to get out of there."
MacIsaac said one of the staff at the restaurant drove out to see what was happening and noted some areas were being evacuated and roads were closing.
"We got in an Uber and tried to get out of there, but traffic was already starting to get pretty congested," she said.
Smoke from this fire could be seen across Halifax Tuesday afternoon.
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