A number of those who have been forced to evacuate due to the wildfire in Annapolis County will be allowed back in to their homes on Tuesday, Nova Scotia officials say.
“Residents in the Trout Lake and Highway 10 area are safe to return to their homes starting (Tuesday),” Jim Rutterham, Director of Fleet and Forest Protection with the Nova Scotia government, told reporters Monday afternoon.
Provincial officials said that residents of about 300 of the 450 homes that were evacuated will be allowed back in a staggered start beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
“We’re not yet ready to recommend lifting the evacuation order for the West Dalhousie area,” Rutterham said.
“It is still too unsafe in those areas and the wildfire is too active for residents to return.”
In a Tuesday update, the province estimated the size of the wildfire to be 8,468 hectares.
Rain fell on the fire over the weekend, falling further in some areas than others, a welcome reprieve for those battling the blaze.
“You know some parts of the fire received as much as seven mm, which is not a lot of rain but it’s some that helped,” said Scott Tingley, Manager of Forest Protection, who noted that other areas received as little as two mm.
“So we’re already back into a drying trend in that area.”
The southern end was the area which saw little rain over the weekend and has become the strength of the blaze.
“The south end of the fire is challenging due to the fuel types and the winds, and a lot of the initial effort has been focused on the north end and securing that part of the fire,” Tingley explained.
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Officials estimate it will be another month before they are done fighting the fire.
“We still have to bring it under control, then make sure it’s extinguished, then mop it up and then clean it up,” Rutterham said.
“So we’re going to be there for quite a while.”
There were no reports of new damage to homes on Monday morning. So far, there have been 20 homes and at least 11 outbuildings, such as sheds or garages, that were damaged or destroyed.
The province said 10 contract helicopters, four planes and a bird dog are battling the blaze alongside 150 firefighters from Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.
The firefighters from Ontario and Quebec have been called upon to support local firefighters who have been battling the blaze since mid-August.
The crews from the outside of the province are expected to remain in place for another week to help with the blaze.
Meanwhile, Environment Canada issued an air quality warning for Annapolis County.
Smoke from the Long Lake wildfire will “significantly” reduce air quality, it said Tuesday.
— with files from The Canadian Press
________________________________________
From: Kevin Nielsen <Kevin.Nielsen@corusent.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 4:02 PM
To: Global News Copy Desk <CopyDesk@globalnews.ca>
Subject: Update vet
A number of those who have been forced to evacuate due to the wildfire in Annapolis County will be allowed back in to their homes on Tuesday, Nova Scotia officials say.
“County of Annapolis that residents in the Trout Lake and Highway 10 area are safe to return to their homes starting (Tuesday),” Jim Rutterham, Director of Fleet and Forest Protection, told reporters Monday afternoon.
Provincial officials said that residents of about 300 of the 450 homes that were evacuated will be allowed back in a staggered start beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
“We’re not yet ready to recommend lifting the evacuation order for the West Dalhousie area, Rutterham said.
“It is still too unsafe in those areas and the wildfire is too active for residents to return.”
In a Tuesday update, the province estimated the size of the wildfire to be 8,468 hectares.
Rain fell on the fire over the weekend, falling further in some areas than others, a welcome reprieve for those battling the blaze.
“You know some some parts of the fire received as much as seven millimetres, which is not a lot of rain but it’s some that helped,” said Scott Tingley, Manager of Forest Protection, who noted that other areas received as little as two millimetres.
“So we’re already back into a drying trend in that area.”
The southern end was the area which saw little rain over the weekend and it has become the strength of the blaze.
“The south end of the fire is challenging due to the fuel types and the winds, and a lot of the initial effort has been focused on the north end and securing that part of the Fire,” Tingley explained.
Officials estimate it will be another month before they are done fighting the fire.
“We still have to bring it under control, then make sure it’s extinguished, then mop it up and then clean it up,” Rutterham said.
“So we’re going to be there for quite a while.”
There were no reports of new damage to homes on Monday morning. So far, there have been 20 homes and at least 11 outbuildings, such as sheds or garages, that were damaged or destroyed.
The province said 10 contract helicopters, four planes and a bird dog are battling the blaze alongside 150 firefighters from Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.
The firefighters from Ontario and Quebec have been called upon to spell local firefighters who have been battling the blaze since mid-August.
The crews from the outside of the province are expected to remain in place for another week to help with the blaze.
Environment Canada issued an air quality warning for Annapolis County.
Smoke from the Long Lake wildfire will “significantly” reduce air quality, it said Tuesday.
— with files from The Canadian Press
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