News release

Wildfires Update, June 3 (afternoon)

Natural Resources and Renewables

Five wildfires were extinguished since the morning update today, June 3, and the status of three others has changed. The total number of active wildfires in the province is now down to five. Below are details on these wildfires.

Barrington Lake, Shelburne County:

  • fire is still out of control, covering 24,980 hectares (249.8 square kilometres)
  • about 115 firefighters from Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR), more than 40 volunteer/municipal and 18 from Newfoundland and Labrador
  • air resources include five helicopters and one water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Lake Road, Municipality of the District of Shelburne:

  • fire is being held at 114 hectares
  • 15 DNRR firefighters.

Evacuation information for the Shelburne fires is available at: https://www.facebook.com/shelburneemo

Pubnico, Yarmouth County:

  • fire is being held at 138 hectares
  • firefighters on scene include 20 from DNRR and also volunteer/municipal.

Air and heavy equipment resources, including five helicopters and one water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador, are being co-ordinated between the three wildfires in Shelburne and Yarmouth counties.

Westwood Hills, Tantallon:

  • fire is 85 per cent contained, being held at an estimated 950 hectares
  • firefighters on scene include 40 from DNRR, 108 from Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and nine from Department of National Defence
  • air resources include two helicopters and one water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Containment efforts include a combination of fire-supressing methods including dozer breaks, natural breaks and nearby highways.

Hammonds Plains (Farmers Dairy Lane):

  • fire is now listed as under control, 100 per cent contained
  • four HRM volunteer firefighters remain on scene.

Up-to-date information on HRM comfort centres, evacuation centres, response efforts and more, is available https://www.halifax.ca/ and by following @hfxgov on Twitter.

People are asked to please remain away from all wildfire areas.

Quick Facts:

  • the five wildfires that were extinguished since the morning update were in Hants West, Shelburne (Upper Clyde River Road), Waverley, and two others in HRM – Long Lake and Perrin Drive
  • there is a provincewide ban on open fires; the fine has been increased to $25,000 for breaking the burn ban
  • travel and activities in the woods are restricted
  • people should not operate drones over a forest fire; drones can interfere with the suppression effort and pose a danger to aircraft and first responders
  • people should only call 911 if their health or safety is threatened and they need immediate help; for non-emergencies in HRM related to the police, people can call 902-490-5016

Additional Resources:

More information and other updates related to the wildfires are available at: https://novascotia.ca/alerts/

Restrictions on being in the woods: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230530003

Burn restrictions: https://novascotia.ca/burnsafe/

News Release - Increased Fine for Breaking Burn Ban: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230531004

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