Bayers Lake wildfire in Halifax now being held: DNR

Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says a wildfire burning in the Bayers Lake area of Halifax is now being held.

According to an update at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday, the department said the Susies Lake wildfire is not currently growing, but officials note that could change quickly.

A few firefighters will monitor the fire overnight.

The Nova Scotia Emergency Measures Organizations says about 50 firefighters will return in the morning with a goal of getting the fire under control.

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 near Susies Lake.

It was originally estimated to be about 25 to 30 hectares in size. Officials now say it is about 15 hectares.

DNR said 30 of its firefighters were at the scene since first light Wednesday along with six from Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency.

There is still no threat to residents and structures.

Provincial update

Premier Tim Houston says Halifax crews were dispatched to reports of 17 wildfires Tuesday, including the Susies Lake one.

He says 12 fines have been issued so far in relation to the ongoing burn ban and the ban to stay out of the woods.

“It’s certainly my hope that every single one of those is fully prosecuted and collected. It’s just too serious of a situation right now,” he said during an afternoon update. “We’re in a really, really tricky situation here. And the main reason that we haven’t had a catastrophe yet is our firefighters.”

Houston added the next few weeks are going to be long, with no significant rain in the forecast.

“Certainly not in the orders of magnitude that we would need in this province, and so far we’ve been dodging bullets. Think about it, 17 fires just in the last 24 hours. The province is a tinderbox. It’s so easy for a fire to start right now. We haven’t had any rain since June,” he says.

He also warned people to stay out of the way of firefighting efforts.

“If you’re out and about in an area near fires and you see an aircraft looking to come down for water, please clear the area so the aircraft can do their work. Take your boat somewhere, don’t stick around and watch, please do not get in the way of these waterbombers when they are working,” he says.

Houston says same thing applies to drones.

“I’m sure it would be really exciting and interesting to get some great content of a fire, but if there’s a fire in the area, get your drones out of there. Just stay out of the way.”

The province is now recommending activities that require heavy machinery, including agriculture and forestry, be restricted between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m.

It is also asking those who carry out industrial activities to have fire equipment accessible and water where possible at the site. There also must be a two-hour fire watch after work is completed.

Cause under investigation

Scott Tingley, DNR’s manager of forest protection, says two helicopters were at the scene of the Susies Lake fire as of Wednesday afternoon.

One helicopter was dropping water and the other directed where to drop the water.

He said the fire is not growing, but the department is not ready to say its is being held just yet and crews are working to contain the perimeter.

Tingley added the weather helped the crews in the morning and Susies Lake provided a natural barrier to prevent the fire from spreading.

“I know everybody wants to know the cause. What I can say right now is that we are investigating as we always do,” Tingley said, adding the cause was related to human activity.

Tingley says, when crews arrived on scene, there was nobody in the area of the fire.

“That makes it impossible to hold the person or people responsible to account and that’s frustrating for everyone.”

Businesses evacuated

The municipality says a mandatory evacuation has been ordered for all businesses in the plaza on the west side of Chain Lake Drive between the off-ramp for Highway 2 to Julius Boulevard.

“This evacuation is in place to manage traffic issues and to protect residents and workers in the area,” reads a municipal alert sent just before 11 a.m.

While some businesses in Bayers Lake did not have to close Wednesday, a lot of local businesses chose to.

“The updates have been a bit obscure. Which is understandable,” said Aaron Armstong, owner of The Great British Shop. “There’s a lot going on, so we’ve been just kind of waiting for any updates. We decided just to stay closed to the public just so that we don’t bring any more traffic to the plaza. I feel like most of our customers won’t come today anyway.”

Instead, Armstrong wanted to feed the first responders.

“We’re open in case any firefighters or any first responders, anyone involved in the firefighting, want to come in and get food or drink anything they want,” he said. “It’s all hearty stuff. It’s all locally-made, so if they want to come in and grab it.”

He made pies and sweets and first responders could eat for free. Armstrong knows their importance to the fire.

In Pictures: Bayers Lake Wildfire

“Yesterday, I was terrified. Watching the smoke go up. To be able to watch it from my balcony, it’s a terrifying situation. As soon as one of the water bombers got there and watching how they quickly managed to get it under control,” he said. “It was still out of control, but the big smoke was gone.”

For Golf Central, staying open meant they could be a light in the dark for people.

“It’s a big stress reliever for people, I know myself. I go to the driving range when I’m feeling stressed out,” said Sam Bilodeau, an employee.

Road closures

The barricades on Chain Lake Drive have been removed and the street has reopened due to the evacuation and in order to reduce traffic congestion.

All access points to the plaza west of Chain Lake Drive from Julius Boulevard to the Kent Building Supplies are closed.

Julius Boulevard and Susie Lake Crescent between Julius Boulevard and Hobsons Lake Drive are also closed.

Halifax Transit Route 21 for Timberlea will return to regular routing through Bayers Lake and Route 28 Bayers Lake will remain on a detour.

People are asked to avoid unnecessary travel into the Bayers Lake area.

Special air quality statement issued

A special air quality statement is in place in the Halifax area due to the Bayers Lake wildfire.

Environment Canada says smoke from the fire is reducing air quality in the area and places downwind.

The statement says people should limit their time outside and keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.

Outpatient centre to stay closed Thursday

The Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre, which offers medical services and clinics, and was evacuated Tuesday, was closed Wednesday and will remain closed Thursday.

Nova Scotia Health says most patients with appointments will be seen at other locations or virtually. Some appointments will be rescheduled.

Patients with booked blood collection appointments can go to the Bayers Road blood collection clinic at the same scheduled time.

Electrocardiogram patients can go to the Cobequid Community Health Centre in Lower Sackville at their regularly scheduled appointment time.

Nova Scotia Health says decisions will be made Thursday about when services at the outpatient site will resume.

Lake Paul wildfire

DNR also reported two “small out of control wildfires” near Lake Paul in Kings County Wednesday.

The fires were estimated at .9 and 1.9 hectares.

Two DNR helicopters were dropping water and 15 DNR and 30 local firefighters were on scene around 1:30 p.m.

The .9 hectare fire was later deemed under control.

The 1.9 hectare fire is being held.

“Not currently growing but could change either positively or negatively. Crews returning in the morning,” reads a post on DNR’s social media.

-With files from CTV Atlantic’s Brianne Foley and Callum Smith

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