The Long Lake wildfire in Annapolis County has grown to nearly 8,300 hectares.
That is according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which says the Long Lake wildfire is still out of control, nearly two weeks after it was first ignited by a lightning strike.
The department says it is still working to assess the number of homes lost over the weekend in West Dalhousie. There have been no new reports of damage.
Jim Rudderham, director of fleet and forest protection with DNR, said the rain the province received earlier this week has been helpful but it’s not enough.
“This is a big fire, this has a lot of perimeter to get around, it has a lot of interior to get put out, it’s going to take a lot of equipment to do that,” he said. “All that equipment, when it’s finally extinguished, is going to have to be removed so we are going to be there for a while.”
Crews are continuing to focus on east side of Paradise Lake, and also working around entire perimeter.
According to DNR, there are currently six helicopters and six planes plus bird dogs. As for ground resources, there are 36 DNR, 62 Ontario and 59 local firefighters, plus heavy equipment operators.
A crew of 20 firefighters and a management team from Ontario relieved some Nova Scotia crews on Wednesday. Rudderham said this is to ensure the province’s resources are balanced.
The forecast for the West Dalhousie area from Environment Canada shows a 30 per cent chance of showers for Wednesday. Then a long stretch of heat and sun, before a possibility of more rain next week.
The latest evacuation order from DNR and where the fire perimeter is:
