Fire northeast of Halifax expands as authorities maintain evacuation alert
A wildfire burning roughly 100 kilometres northeast of Halifax expanded considerably overnight and now covers an estimated 17 square kilometres, Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources reported Friday. Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency issued an evacuation order for properties near Mooseland Road on Thursday night that authorities estimate affects about 100 to 150 residents.
The fire was initially estimated at around three square kilometres when the evacuation order was issued. Provincial officials say the blaze remains out of control and firefighting crews are continuing suppression efforts on the ground and from the air.
- Area affected: Mooseland Road region, ~100 km northeast of Halifax.
- Evacuations: Order issued for about 100–150 people; residents must follow local direction.
- Fire size: Grew from ~3 sq. km to ~17 sq. km overnight.
“While our crews are managing current wildfire activity, conditions are becoming drier, and the risk is increasing,”
The comment came from Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton, who also noted that the province has recorded about 100 wildfires so far this year — more than double the number at the same time last year. Provincial officials have repeatedly urged Nova Scotians to review daily online fire updates, respect fire restrictions and exercise caution when burning or disposing of cigarettes, saying most wildfires are human-caused and therefore preventable.
Local emergency officials have not released detailed timelines for when evacuated residents may return. Those under the evacuation order should monitor Halifax Regional Municipality and Nova Scotia Emergency Management social channels and websites for the latest instructions, as well as updates on air quality and road access.
| Metric | Reported value |
|---|---|
| Estimated fire size | 17 sq. km |
| Initial size at evacuation | 3 sq. km |
| People affected by evacuation | 100–150 |
| Distance from Halifax | ~100 km northeast |
| Wildfires recorded in province this year | ~100 |
For Halifax-area residents, the immediate implications include potential changes to air quality, possible travel disruptions and the prospect of additional evacuations if the fire behaviour changes. Municipal and provincial officials are coordinating response efforts; residents in affected and neighbouring communities should have emergency plans ready, keep pets and critical documents prepared for movement, and obey any formal evacuation directives.
InfoRadar will continue to follow official updates from Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and report developments as they are released.
