CITYnews halifax : Crews eyeing incoming storm to douse growing wildfire in Halifax County

CITYnews halifaxBy Natasha O’Neill

Officials are cautiously optimistic that firefighters and help from rain will get the blaze in Halifax County under control.

The Jacket Lake wildfire grew from an estimated four hectares in size when it was first discovered to around 1,700 hectares in a day. Addresses from 4315 Mooseland Rd. down to Highway 7 were told to evacuate Thursday around 9:00 p.m.

Those leaving their homes can register at evacuation centres at Musquodoboit Rural High School (11980 Hwy. #224) and Marine Drive Academy (479 Church Point Rd.)

Jim Rudderham, director of fleet and forest protection with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said the evacuations were a precautions because the electricity is cut off from the roadway.

A spokesperson for Halifax Regional Municipality told The Canadian Press that the evacuation order affects an estimated 100 to 150 people.

Related:

• Nova Scotia wildfire prompts evacuation order northeast of Halifax

Crews have been battling the out-of-control blaze that was first sparked in a “hard-to-access” area of the county. Halifax Professional Fire Fighters, the union for Halifax Fire and Emergency Services personnel, said that on Thursday afternoon the flames spread to the south and east, crossing Mooseland Road.

Humidity has helped tamp down flames on Friday

Rudderham said that on Thursday afternoon, the fire was quite “intense” as the dry brush on the ground quickly burned a large path. Smoke and active flames were part of the challenges for people on the ground, and portions of the charred forest can be seen from the air, he said.

Friday morning, Bob Robichaud, meteorologist with Environment Canada, said the humidity increased, allowing crews to gain on the blaze.

Intense fire could be seen in Halifax County that created challenging conditions for crews. (Province of Nova Scotia)

While there is no rain in the forecast for Saturday, Rudderham and the teams are looking for precipitation to come by the end of the weekend.

“The system on Sunday that we’re looking at, it looks like it’s probably going to bring a significant amount of precipitation, and models range right now between about 15 to 30 mm for that specific area,” Robichaud explained.

According to DNR, there are 25 personnel from the province, 31 volunteer firefighters and members from Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services. Two helicopters and four fixed-wing water bombers have been dousing the flames from the sky.

Two additional fixed-wing water bombers from Newfoundland are also assisting.

Officials from DNR noted that there have been more than 100 wildfires this year in Nova Scotia, double the number of incidents at this time last year.

Last year’s wildfire season saw deep drought in the province’s interior sparking fires from lightening that burned well into the fall.

Rudderham said that Nova Scotia is not drier than this time last year, “But I think we’re building to where we were last year.”