Crews check for hotspots after brush fire forces evacuation near Halifax

HALIFAX – Crews are checking for hotspots Friday after a large brush fire forced the evacuation of about 200 homes east of Halifax on Thursday.

Deputy fire Chief Roy Hollett says the fire burned out of control for several hours due to high winds, but appears to have been contained by about 8:30 p.m.

Get breaking National news

Get breaking Canada news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you won't miss a trending story.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Get Started

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

No damage or injuries were reported, and residents were allowed to return to their homes in East Lawrencetown before 9 p.m.

Hollett says firefighters and officials with Natural Resources were wetting down the area about 20 kilometres east of Halifax and looking for flare-ups, but hadn’t found any.

He says the fire fed off of large swaths of dead grass left over from a long winter, which has led to a ban on outdoor fires.

In all, about 14 hectares of brush were consumed by the fire, which started in the Mineville area along Shoreline Drive near Candy Mountain Road.