Remaining Evacuees of Long Lake Wildfires Can Return Home September 20

All remaining residents evacuated because of the Long Lake wildfires in Annapolis County will be able to return home Saturday, September 20.

Residents are to arrive at the 484 Morse Rd. checkpoint with a valid piece of identification proving their civic address for re-entry. The re-entry will happen in a phased approach:

• beginning at 9 a.m. 4957 to 5535 West Dalhousie Rd., 1971 to 2708 Thorne Rd. and all of Heartland Road and Medicraft Lane

• beginning at 10 a.m. 4527 to 4868 West Dalhousie Rd. and 47 to 265 Morse Rd.

“I am thankful to hear that all the remaining evacuees will be returning to their community over the weekend. I can only imagine the relief families are feeling after being told they can come home,” said Kim Masland, Minister of Emergency Management. “We know that 20 families will be returning and figuring out their next steps. For those who have lost their homes, my heart goes out to you. Please know the Province and the county are here to support you through this time.”

Barricades will remain in place, allowing re-entry for residents only, and not the general public as work and repairs continue on hazards in the area. Thorne Road remains closed from civic address 2762 to 3408.

A state of local emergency remains in place in Annapolis County. The active wildfire zone also remains barricaded and only staff responding to the wildfire are permitted in these areas.

The decision to allow people to go back to their homes is based on an assessment of current fire behaviour, air quality and road access by the Department of Natural Resources. The Department changed the status of the wildfire to being held on September 8. That means the fire is not likely to grow or move as long as conditions do not change. It is still not under control and could still grow if conditions change, but the risk is low for the area where residents are allowed to return.

For returning residents, power will be restored once people are back in their homes. Waste collection will happen starting at 7 a.m. on Monday, September 22, and Thursday, September 25. More information is available on the County of Annapolis website: www.annapoliscounty.ca

Residents are also advised to:

• drive with caution as fire crews may still be working in the area
• be aware of air quality advisories and limit exposure if sensitive to smoke
• check the home for damage before re-entering
• residents should remain prepared to evacuate should fire behaviour change.

Twenty homes were lost due to the wildfire; the Province and County of Annapolis are working together to support impacted families.

Quotes:

“This is an important and emotional day for our community. It’s a day we have all been waiting for. We know that for some returning brings relief, while for others, it brings heartbreak. Please know that the county stands with each of you. Whether you are rebuilding, recovering or simply taking the next step forward, we are here to support you in every way we can.”
— Diane LeBlanc, Warden, County of Annapolis

Quick Facts:

• the Long Lake wildfires complex is being held and currently estimated at 8,468 hectares, or more than 84 square kilometres (a wildfire complex is several fires that are being managed by one incident management team with resources being moved between them as necessary)
• a community navigator is assisting evacuees with applying for relevant programs
• an emergency financial support program is available for those displaced from their primary residence, based on the number of days evacuated
• emergencies are stressful and can be overwhelming; mental health and well-being resources available to support people are listed at the end of this release
• Nova Scotians are encouraged to watch for regular, official updates on provincial government social media accounts and the emergency alerts and information web page

Additional Resources:

Latest information on Long Lake wildfires complex (provincial emergency alerts and information web page): https://novascotia.ca/alerts/

Wildfire updates from the County of Annapolis: https://annapoliscounty.ca/government/news-media-releases/2200-west-dalhousie-wildfires-update

Returning home after the wildfire evacuation: https://annapoliscounty.ca/images/2025/REMO/Hoyt_Lake_Wildfire/Non_Effected_Wildfire_Evacuation_Re-Entry.pdf

Financial support for evacuees: https://novascotia.ca/wildfire-support/

Assistance for evacuees in navigating supports: https://annapoliscounty.ca/government/news-media-releases/2204-west-dalhousie-wildfires-evacuees-registration

News release – Re-Entry Begins for Some Evacuees of Long Lake Wildfires: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/09/02/re-entry-begins-some-evacuees-long-lake-wildfires

News release – More Evacuees of Long Lake Wildfires Can Return Home; Fire Status Changed to Held: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/09/08/more-evacuees-long-lake-wildfires-can-return-home-fire-status-changed-held

News release - More Evacuees of Long Lake Wildfires Can Return Home September 16: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/09/15/more-evacuees-long-lake-wildfires-can-return-home-september-16

Department of Natural Resources on X: https://x.com/NS_DNR

Department of Emergency Management: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NSEmergency X: https://x.com/NSEmergency

Province of Nova Scotia: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nsgov X: https://x.com/nsgov Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nsgov/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nsgov.bsky.social

Emergency mental healthcare is available at the toll-free numbers below or a hospital emergency department:

• provincial mental health and addictions crisis line: 1-888-429-8167 (available 24 hours a day)
• national suicide crisis helpline: 988 (24 hours)
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868 (24 hours)
• Hope for Wellness Helpline (Indigenous): 1-800-777-5888

Support with a mental health or addiction concern is available through the provincial mental health and addictions intake service at 1-855-922-1122 or https://accesswellness.lifeworks.com/nova-scotia-en.html