An emergency alert has been issued and businesses have been evacuated as crews battle a wildfire in the Bayers Lake area of Halifax.
Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Chief Dave Meldrum says the fire, which started around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, is burning in the woods behind a building on Julius Boulevard and Dugger McNeil Drive.
As of 8:15 p.m., the fire was estimated at about 25-30 hectares.
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is on scene, along with 30 Halifax firefighters, and one DNR helicopter.
The province says two 802 planes from New Brunswick flew in to drop retardant on the wildfire and returned home.
Two Canadair CL-415s have also been called in from New Brunswick to drop water on the fire.
“Because it’s so hot, it doesn’t seem like water,” said Shanka Allen, who lives near the wildfire. “It is pretty scary.”
Emergency alert and evacuations
An emergency alert was issued at 4:30 p.m., warning Halifax-area residents about the wildfire and urging them to avoid the area.
Halifax Regional Police says businesses from 225 Chain Lake Drive to Julius Boulevard have been evacuated.
The Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre, which offers medical services and clinics, has also been evacuated. The centre says all remaining appointments are cancelled Tuesday.
No residences had been evacuated as of 6 p.m.
Road closures
Lacewood Drive into Bayers Lake is closed. Washmill Lake Road into Bayers Lake is also closed.
Around 7:30 p.m., police released that the following roads would remain closed overnight Tuesday.
- Chain Lake Drive, between the Highway 102 off-ramp and Julius Blvd (inbound lane only)
- Julius Blvd
- Susie Lake Crescent between Julius Blvd and Hobsons Lake Drive
Police are asking people to avoid the Bayers Lake area until further notice.
“Lessening the traffic congestion will help crews respond to the fire and allow those evacuating to leave safely,” said police in a news release.
Bayers Lake is a busy industrial park and shopping destination located roughly 10 kilometres west of downtown Halifax.
N.S. warns against drones
The province sent a second emergency alert around 6:30 p.m., urging people not to fly drones near the wildfire.
“Operation of a drone within 9.3 km of the Susie Lake Wildfire will impede firefighting operations,” warned the alert. “You could be subject to a fine and/or jail time.”
The province says firefighting aircraft must be grounded and crews must suspend operations when an unauthorized drone is present, which could put lives at risk.
‘Stay away from the woods people’
The cause of the fire has not been released, but Allen says this is why the province is asking people not to burn any fires and to stay out the woods.
“Keep up with the fire ban. I don’t know what started this, and I hope it wasn’t started by someone, but this is why they’ve been advising us to stay away from the woods because when something like this happens, then everyone suffers the consequences,” said Allen.
“Stay away from the woods people.”
Nova Scotia has implemented a provincewide ban on open fires and entering the woods. The fine for violating either ban is $25,000.
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
