Tantallon wildfire: Latest News

wildfires in Nova Scotia — including the largest wildfire ever recorded in provincial history — could get some welcome relief Friday with rain in the forecast.Environment Canada forecasts a 60 per cent chance of showers Friday, with rain beginning in the evening. Periods of rain are also expected for the next few days.Officials have said the hot, dry weather seen so far this wildfire season is making it easier for the fire to spread and harder for crews to fight.David Steeves, a technician of forest resources with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, said while a smattering of rain seen earlier Friday morning was “really welcomed,” it “wasn’t enough to be really significant.”He said the amount that fell Friday morning would only have a small effect on the “fine fuels” — such as leaves, twigs, and other things littering the forest floor.“The precipitation that we received this morning would buy us a few hours, but we will take that advantage right now,” Steeves said, noting that the moisture is quickly evaporating.“We are hopeful that we are going to receive additional, precipitation which will only help our cause,” he said.“We are going to continue to monitor the weather very, very closely, and just keep our fingers crossed for any type of precipitation that’s hopefully going to come our way before too much longer.”Dave Meldrum, deputy chief with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, said he’s “never been so happy to see rain as I was this morning.”“I’m sure many people across the region feel the same way,” he said.

Media were invited Tuesday to view the wreckage left behind by a wildfire that swept through the Halifax-area communities of Tantallon and Hammonds Plains over the last week.The fire, which broke out on May 28, destroyed about 200 buildings, including 151 homes, and forced the evacuation of more than 16,400 people. Many evacuees have since been able to return home, but about 4,000 remain displaced.The fire is now under control and 100 per cent contained, and is not expected to spread further.

wildfire burning in the Halifax area, but officials warn there’s a lot of work left to do.In an update Thursday morning, David Steeves, a technician of forest resources with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, said the fire in the Tantallon and Hammonds Plains area is about 50 per cent contained.“So that is a little bit of bright news, but that being said, we are far from being out of the woods,” said Steeves.“Just because we do have a level of percentage of containment does not mean that the … importance of safety in this situation has lowered.”The blaze broke out Sunday afternoon in the Tantallon area, about a 30-minute drive from downtown Halifax, and has since grown to about 837 hectares. The fire has destroyed about 200 buildings, including 150 homes, and forced the evacuation of more than 16,400 people.On Wednesday evening, the evacuation order for the Indigo Shores subdivision was lifted.

https://t.co/KPiEcw6AXf pic.twitter.com/Nj9yrCVoMd— hfxgov (@hfxgov) May 31, 2023The blaze broke out Sunday afternoon in the Tantallon area, about a 30-minute drive from downtown Halifax.More than 200 structures — 150 of which are homes — have been destroyed.Mandatory evacuation orders are in place in a number of neighbourhoods, impacting more than 16,400 residents. An evacuation order was issued for some areas in Bedford Tuesday night due to another fire and potential ammonia leak, but was later rescinded.That fire is still ongoing but was “quiet” Wednesday morning, fire officials say.Dave Meldrum, deputy chief with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, said the devastation left by the wildfire is a “site of tragedy.”“There’s widespread destruction, and at the same time, there’s a level of randomness that comes with wildfires when they hit the urban interface where people live,” he said.“So there are properties that are unharmed in close proximity to properties that are destroyed.“It’s terrible to see.

devastating wildfire burning near Halifax, which crews are continuing to work on Tuesday.In a statement Monday night, the municipality said a full assessment of the damage cannot yet be confirmed, and the estimated numbers are based on initial visual inspectors by first responders.The municipality said it is currently developing a plan to support affected residents “once detailed mapping is completed.”“It is anticipated that this process will take several days, or maybe longer, as the fires remain active,” it said, adding that representatives from the Insurance Bureau of Canada will be available to speak with affected residents at the evacuation centre at the Canada Games Centre.The blaze broke out Sunday afternoon in the Tantallon area, about a 30-minute drive from downtown Halifax, and has since grown to about 788 hectares. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place in a number of neighbourhoods, impacting more than 16,400 residents.In an update Tuesday morning, Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Deputy Chief Dave Meldrum said most of the 200 damaged structures were single-family homes, but they also included detached buildings like garages and sheds.“Our thoughts are with the residents affected by this terrible fire,” he said.Meldrum said the fire behaviour Monday night was “stable” due to favourable weather conditions and firefighters were able to make some progress.HRFE has 60 firefighters, six engines, 10 tankers and a number of other ancillary units at the scene, he said.

Deputy Chief Dave Meldrum confirmed the forest fire began as a call on Juneberry Lane in Upper Tantallon, N.S.By now, the out-of-control blaze had destroyed homes, forced the evacuation of thousands of residents, and led to a local state of emergency for the Tantallon and Hammonds Plains areas.While officials haven’t confirmed how many homes were damaged, Meldrum said at least 10 structures were destroyed. The evacuation tally sits at around 14,000.“We have a lot of work to do today, this week, for many days,” Meldrum said.“This is difficult, and residents must be prepared to remain out of their homes for several days, at least.”Drennan and her family are spread out at three different homes for now.

Justin Trudeau said in a tweet Monday.“We’re keeping everyone affected in our thoughts, and we’re thanking those who are working hard to keep people safe.”The wildfire situation in Nova Scotia is incredibly serious – and we stand ready to provide any federal support and assistance needed. We’re keeping everyone affected in our thoughts, and we’re thanking those who are working hard to keep people safe.— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 29, 2023A total of 13 active wildfires were burning in the province as of Monday morning.In the Halifax region, a local state of emergency has been declared because of the blaze that started Sunday afternoon in Tantallon.The exurban community is roughly a 30-minute drive northwest of downtown Halifax.Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said in a tweet Sunday that the federal government was following the wildfires in Nova Scotia “closely” and stands “ready to help if federal assistance is required.”“We have been in touch with Nova Scotia and our officials at the Government Operations Centre are engaging with provincial officials,” a spokesperson for Blair told Global News Monday.“Should the province request federal assistance, we will work with them to identify and mobilize the federal resources that meet the needs they outline.”In an update Monday morning, Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Deputy Chief Dave Meldrum told reporters that the fire burning in the Tantallon and Hammonds Plains area is “ongoing and still not under control.”He said firefighters were called to the Westwood subdivision of Tantallon, around 3:30 p.m.