Firefighters were back on the scene of a forest fire burning Monday on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore, as dozens of homes in the area remained evacuated.
Crews were called to the fire along Ostrea Lake Road near Musquodoboit Harbour, about 50 kilometres northeast of Halifax, on Sunday afternoon.
Firefighters were initially pulled from the forest due to hot, dry and gusty conditions, and were redirected to focus on protecting structures.
But following some rain Sunday evening, the Natural Resources Department said the fire was being held at 30 hectares — roughly the size of 57 football fields.
Scott Tingley, manager of forest protection with the department, said the fire did not grow overnight and 20 department staff members were on site Monday morning dousing hot spots.
He said no structures have been lost.
“They did a great job to contain it,” Tingley told CBC Radio’s Information Morning Nova Scotia on Monday.
“Their biggest challenge in there is kind of the scrubby, rough terrain. On the ground it’s slow going. They’ve had to cut a lot of trails for crew safety … but they are making progress and getting hose around the fire.”
Tingley said the four to five millimetres of rain received over the area Sunday evening did help. Tankers with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency were on scene Monday and a helicopter was on standby.
Conservation officers would also be on hand to try to determine the cause of the blaze.
David Hendsbee, the municipal councillor for the area, said 102 homes were evacuated on Sunday, but some people were allowed to return later in the evening. About 30 homes remained evacuated on Monday, he said in a Facebook post
“A lot of people are anxious and concerned about their pets but everybody got out safely,” said Hendsbee, who represents Lawrencetown-The Lakes-Chezzetcook-Eastern Shore.
“The RCMP escorted a couple people in to get their animals out safely.”
The evacuated homes were along Reflection Lane, Heselton Drive and Ostrea Lake Road from civic number 320 to the south as far as civic number 655.
An evacuation centre was set up at the Eastern Shore Community Centre in Musquodoboit Harbour.
Hendsbee said a local Tim Hortons donated coffee, tea, water, muffins and Timbits, and plugs were set up for people to charge their devices.
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Tingley said it was the smell of smoke that initially signalled to crews in the Jeddore area that a fire had broken out.
“They decided to go do a patrol in the area and they came upon the fire in addition to the public reporting that it was happening as well,” he said.
“Crews from [the Department of Natural Resources] and HRM fire were on scene very quickly. This was a very quick response and I think they did a great job to contain it as they could in the conditions.”
The Halifax Regional Municipality was advising those close to the fire to shut all windows and doors, turn off air exchangers and stay inside until air quality improves.
A burn ban was in effect in Halifax County on Sunday. Burning is never allowed between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. during wildfire season.
The fine for violating burn restrictions in Nova Scotia is $25,000.
