Wildfire in Chester Grant, N.S., now ‘100% contained’

A wildfire near Chester Grant, N.S., has now been “100% contained,” according to Nova Scotia’s department of lands and forestry.

Fire crews returned to the scene at daybreak on Saturday.

READ MORE: 20 fire departments battling large forest fire in Nova Scotia’s Chester Basin

The blaze reportedly began at approximately 4:30 p.m. AT on Friday.

As of Saturday afternoon, when officals announced the blaze was contained, they said eight staff with the department of lands and forestry remain on scene, eight fire tankers and 40 volunteer firefighters.

Jim Rudderham, the province’s acting manager for forest protection, said the moving open flames captured in photos Friday had subsided by Saturday morning.

“Today… they don’t have any open flame, and it’s just hot spots to dig out and find and put out,” Rudderham said by phone from Bridgewater, N.S.

Rudderham said conditions early in the day were ideal for suppressing the remains of the fire, with cooler temperatures, less heavy winds and higher humidity. He said the scene will likely be surveyed for a couple of days before the fire is considered 100 per cent out.

The blaze is known to have destroyed at least two buildings as of Friday night.

At its peak the wildfire was spread across a 27-hectare area.

RCMP say Highway 12 near Chester Grant is closed to all northbound traffic at Exit 9, with southbound traffic being diverted at Chester Grant Road.

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The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

With files from The Canadian Press