A wildfire that began in the Upper Tantallon, N.S., area Sunday afternoon is ongoing and still not under control.
The fire was first reported on Sunday around 3:30 p.m. in Westwood Hills, northwest of Halifax. Halifax Fire Deputy Chief David Meldrum told CTV News on Sunday crews found a “very aggressive” wildfire moving quickly through the Westwood Hills subdivision.
In a press release Sunday night Mayor Mike Savage and Regional Council declared a local state of emergency in the communities affected by the fires. The local state of emergency will be in effect for seven days unless otherwise lifted or extended.
“Emergency responders are working around the clock to keep people safe and reduce the threats posed by the fires,” the municipal authority in the capital of Nova Scotia province said in the press release.
Nova Scotia RCMP ordered residents of several subdivisions in the Upper Tantallon/Hammonds Plains area to leave their homes in the face of the fast-moving wildfire. The Westwood Hills subdivision in Upper Tantallon, N.S., was the first to begin an evacuation as the fire consumed at least 10 homes.
According to CBC News, by 10:20 p.m. Sunday night, the evacuation order was extended to residents of:
- Highland Park subdivision in nearby Yankeetown.
- Haliburton Hills.
- Glen Arbour.
- Pockwock Road.
- White Hills subdivision.
- Lucasville Road to Sackville Drive.
- Maplewood Voyageur Way, including St. George Blvd. and side streets.
- McCabe Lake area.
- Indigo Shores.
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said about 18,000 people had been affected by evacuations. “It’s a very stressful time for people. It’s devastating. It’s life-changing for people who have been impacted by this. It’s a very serious fire.”
Scott Tingley, a provincial spokesperson with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said Monday morning the last unofficial report was that the fire was about 100 hectares (247 acres), but he expects that could now be larger.
“None of that fire line is controlled and we did have a wind shift last night so it’s going to be another tough day,” he told CBC Radio’s Information Morning Nova Scotia.
