An out-of-control wildfire on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore has expanded sharply, now covering about 1,700 hectares, provincial officials said Friday as mandatory evacuations continued for parts of the Mooseland area northeast of Halifax.
What prompted the evacuations
The blaze began Wednesday evening and grew substantially by Thursday, prompting Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency to issue a mandatory evacuation along a roughly 22-kilometre section of Mooseland Road, from civic address 4315 south to Highway 7. Local officials estimate the affected area involves 100 to 150 residents.
Residents described chaotic scenes as the fire intensified. One local, Penny Smith, said she and her husband left immediately after receiving the alert and drove to a motel in Dartmouth.
"Around ten to nine, I got the alert on my phone to evacuate," Smith said. "It's just devastating at this point. I have no idea if I've even got a home and have nobody to contact."
Firefighting response and resources
Provincial wildfire management officials said aerial assets were deployed to slow the fire's spread. Jim Rudderham, director of fleet and wildfire management for the Department of Natural Resources, said a combination of fixed-wing water bombers and helicopters were in use.
"Every tool in the toolbox will help us," Rudderham said. "This morning, the weather is a little calmer, and we can get some heavy aircraft on the fire, and our crews as well, to start tightening those boundaries."
Equipment in the operation includes:
- Two Nova Scotia fixed-wing water bombers
- Two water bombers from Newfoundland and Labrador
- Multiple helicopters
- Support from local volunteer fire departments, Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, and the Department of Natural Resources crews
Infrastructure impacts and safety
The fire crossed Mooseland Road, leading Nova Scotia Power to de-energize active lines in the area until crews can safely assess them. Rudderham warned that power crews must wait for safe access before restoring or inspecting lines.
Officials paused direct firefighting operations overnight for safety and said heavy aircraft and ground crews resumed when conditions permitted. The provincial Wildfire Nova Scotia viewer tracked the blaze's rapid expansion from roughly 300 hectares on Thursday evening to the current size.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Estimated size | 1,700 hectares |
| Evacuation zone | Mooseland Road (civic 4315) to Highway 7 — ~22 km |
| Residents affected | Estimated 100–150 people |
| Aerial resources | 2 NS water bombers; 2 from Newfoundland and Labrador; helicopters |
For residents in the evacuation area, emergency officials advise following notices from Halifax Regional Municipality and Wildfire Nova Scotia, keeping clear of closed roads, and monitoring official channels for updates on repopulation and road or power status.
As crews continue suppression work, officials say calmer morning conditions provided an opportunity to reinforce containment lines; however, the situation remains active and residents are urged to remain vigilant and prepared for further orders.
