Latest news with #HalifaxProfessionalFireFighters
CBC
21 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
Some evacuees heading home as forest fire on Eastern Shore slows
A forest fire is still burning on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore, but the union representing Halifax firefighters says they've made headway as rain continues to fall in the area. The RCMP, Halifax Fire and Emergency and the Department of Natural Resources have been on the scene of a forest fire along Ostrea Lake Road, which is located near Musquodoboit Harbour, since Sunday afternoon. But in an update shared on Facebook around 7 p.m. Sunday, the Halifax Professional Fire Fighters association said the "situation has stabilized" and resources were being "gradually released from the scene." In an earlier statement, the association had described fire conditions are "serious, fuelled by thick brush, dry vegetation, and gusty winds." It said crews had been pulled from the woods for safety reasons and were focused on protecting structures. Many homes nearby were evacuated due to the fire, but the Halifax Regional Municipality said some people will be allowed to return home this evening. In a release issued around 7:30 p.m., the HRM said those living on Birchwood Lane, Lailia Lane, Sunset Lane, and Ostrea Lake Road from civic number 320 northwards to Highway 7, will be permitted to go back home after 8 p.m. An evacuation order remains in place for Reflection Lane, Heselton Drive, and Ostrea Lake Road from civic number 320 to the south as far as civic number 655. On Sunday afternoon, the Department of Natural Resources posted that the size of the fire was estimated at 35 hectares — an area about the size of 50 soccer fields. It said the department had 12 firefighters on the scene and a helicopter. The No. 7 highway was temporarily closed to traffic from Pond Road to Strike Lane, but has since reopened. Fire began around 1 p.m. According to David Hendsbee, the municipal councillor for the area, the fire began around 1 p.m. AT. He estimates at least 100 homes in the area have been evacuated. "I just ask people to be patient during this time," he said. "The RCMP and the fire department are doing the best they can do." An evacuation centre has been established at the Eastern Shore Community Centre in Musquodoboit Harbour for those impacted by the fire. The Halifax Regional Municipality has advised those close to the fire should shut all windows and doors, turn off air exchangers and stay inside until air quality improves. Mike Palmer lives in a home affected by the evacuation order. He was out getting groceries when the order happened, so his partner has been alone gathering necessities before leaving. When Palmer spoke with CBC News, he said he wasn't allowed to go home despite being only 140 metres away from his front door. "I feel very stressed. I feel helpless," said Palmer, who moved to the area from Ontario six months ago. 'Definitely a forest fire I smelled,' says business owner Ronnie Poan owns a bowling alley, UnBOWLievable Lanes, located on Strike Lane. He said he could smell smoke around 1 p.m. AT. "I was thinking that's awful weird for somebody to have a fire in the house today because it's warm out, not because it's cold," he said. "But it was … definitely a forest fire I smelled." Poan said the bowling alley was holding a youth club banquet today. He said some people stayed behind because they couldn't head home with traffic only moving in one direction on Highway 7 before the road reopened. The public is being advised to avoid the area. A burn ban is currently in effect in Halifax County. Environment Canada is forecasting rain for the area until around 9 p.m. and says there's a chance of more showers overnight.
CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Forest fire evacuation underway in Musquodoboit Harbour, N.S.
A wildfire broke out in the area of Ostrea Lake, N.S., Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Source: Facebook/Halifax Professional Fire Fighters) RCMP is assisting the Department of Natural Resources and Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency (HRFE) in response to a forest fire in Musquodoboit Harbour, said a post from RCMP Nova Scotia on social media. Officers are evacuating residents from Ostrea Lake Road, between the 600 block and adjoining roads to Hwy. 7, said the post at 3:05 p.m. Saturday. The Halifax Professional Fire Fighters (HPFF) said the fire covers an estimated 35 hectares and threatens homes, in a social media post at around 3:20 p.m. The fire was first reported at 1:22 p.m. it said in a second post at approximately 3:45 p.m. HPFF said the fire has 'grown rapidly and remains out of control.' HRFE crews are assigned to structure protection only and all firefighters have been ordered out of the woods for safety, said the second post. Current evacuated streets include: Birchwood Lane Lailia Lane Reflection Lane Heselton Drive In an update police said the highway is closed to traffic from Pond Road to Strike Lane and traffic delays should be expected while evacuation efforts continue. Police told people not to enter the area in the post. More to come… For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Fire breaks out on Dartmouth apartment building balcony
An apartment building appears to have been damaged following a fire in Dartmouth, N.S., Wednesday morning. Crews responded to a three-storey apartment building on Primrose Street around 9:40 a.m. They found heavy fire on a second-floor balcony, which had extended to the floor above. Crews needed an aerial truck to help get the fire under control. Halifax Professional Fire Fighters says it is the same building where a major fire broke out in 2018. One person died as a result of that fire and a second person was sent to hospital. At 9:39 AM, #hfxfirefighters responded to reports of a fire in a three-storey apartment building in Dartmouth. Our members arrived to heavy fire on a second-floor balcony that had extended to the floor above. Our members quickly went to work, with an aggressive fire attack… — Halifax Professional Fire Fighters (@hfxfirefighters) June 18, 2025 CTV Atlantic has reached out to Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency for more information on Wednesday's fire. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
01-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Firefighters' union says Halifax's growth has exceeded response capability
The union that represents hundreds of career firefighters in Halifax says there aren't enough fire stations in the area to meet requirements. Halifax Professional Fire Fighters association president Brendan Meagher says the city's growth and increased traffic are slowing their response rates. Although a new fire station is under construction on Science Park Drive, firefighters fear this will not do enough to help response times in areas like west Bedford. "Having staff fire stations in the right locations to get to the homes around our communities and in a quick time so that we can limit the damage by the fire is important," he said. Meagher said brush fires were the main concern in the west Bedford area two decades ago. But development has led to more structure fires. He said a lack of fire stations in this part of the city is a problem. "Only one fire station has been built in the last decade, and although one is in the works, more are needed." Halifax not meeting response standard Despite efforts to strengthen the fire department, Halifax struggles to meet fire response standards, the union says. According to Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency, Halifax only met its own response standard — 14 firefighters on scene within 11 minutes in urban areas — in 54.5 per cent of cases in 2024. This represented a 4.6 percentage point drop compared to the previous year. Regarding this year's budget, the city increased its fire service funding to $97.9 million, a 5.2 per cent increase over the previous year. It is intended to fund 20 new firefighters, who will begin training next winter. The goal is to have them ready to help staff at the new station in west Bedford when it opens. In a statement, Halifax Regional Municipality said it anticipates the new station on Science Park Drive will have sufficient staff to meet the needs of the area. "We anticipate that there will be four career firefighters on duty at all times, a team of about 25 volunteer firefighters and at least one fire suppression Platoon Captain or District Chief stationed there." A report by HRM published in 2023 says the New Bedford West Fire Station will have four bays and house the department's administrative headquarters. Construction cost will be about $36 million. HRM says the project is approximately 80 per cent complete. The work was expected to be completed by early 2026, but it won't be ready until at least later in the year.
