Schools have been shut down and a local state of emergency has been declared for the communities affected by a forest fire which continues to rage near Halifax on Monday.
There is not yet an estimate on the size of the fire, but its impact has already been devastating. While no injuries have been reported, thousands have had to be evacuated and a number of homes in the Tantallon and Hammonds Plains areas have been destroyed or are at risk of damage.
At 11:05 p.m. Sunday, Halifax Mayor Mike Savage and regional council declared a local state of emergency for the affected communities, which will be in effect for seven days unless otherwise lifted or extended.
Bay View High, Hammonds Plains Consolidated, Kingswood Elementary, Tantallon Junior Elementary, Tantallon Senior Elementary, Madeline Symonds Middle School have all been closed, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education announced Sunday night.