HRM asking evacuated residents to use comfort centres and not to try and return to their homes

CITYnews halifax\ By Dan Ahlstrand and Chris Halef   

Authorities continue to stress the mandatory nature of evacuation orders, emphasizing that residents must comply with instructions issued by local authorities, including police, firefighters, and ground search and rescue teams.

Returning to homes is strictly prohibited until municipal authorities confirm the area is safe.

Map of evacuation zone (red) and Emergency Zone (yellow).

The Canada Games Centre, located at 26 Thomas Raddall Drive, remains open until further notice as residents of Halifax Regional Municipality cope with ongoing wildfires. In response to the escalating crisis, HRM has established several comfort centers have been established to provide aid and support to affected individuals.

The Black Point and Area Community Centre, situated at 8579 St Margarets Bay Road, opened its doors at 7 a.m. today and will operate until 9 p.m. tonight. Similarly, the Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre, located at 1583 Beaver Bank Road, will assist during the same hours.

In addition, residents are urged to avoid the affected regions, refraining from capturing photographs or videos of the fire area, including the use of personal drones. Furthermore, a ban on all off-highway vehicles within Halifax Regional Municipality has been implemented immediately, ensuring that first responder resources are solely allocated to firefighting efforts.

Teams are currently assessing the extent of the damage caused by the wildfires, with updates and further information to be provided to residents as soon as possible. The situation remains fluid, and the community is urged to stay vigilant and cooperative as efforts to combat the fires continue.

Meantime, as of 1 p.m. on Monday, the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables says the wildfire in Tantallon and Westood Hills is roughly 788 hectares and out of control.

As for resourses being used to knock down the fire, there are 32 crew members from the DNRR, 170 from HRM and seven from the Department of National Defence.

That’s in addition to 30 HRM fire trucks, two DNRR helicopters and one water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador which are also on scene.