In an update Saturday morning, the Department of Natural Resources says the Long Lake wildfire is now estimated to be about 807 hectares in size.
That is significant growth from the estimated 406 hectares burning Friday.
It is officially the largest wildfire burning across the province and continues to grow out of control after being sparked by lightning earlier this week. The nearby fire at Hoyt Lake is being held at 1 hectare.
The government says there are 44 DNR team members, 5 fire crew from PEI DNR and 30 local firefighters on the ground at this moment. Earlier in the morning, two contracted helicopters were responsible for dropping water on the scene.
Evacuations continue
The latest evacuation order came Thursday evening, adding to the list approximately 50 homes that needed vacating.
These addresses include
- From the West Dalhousie Road intersection to 484 Morse Rd.
- 4530 to 6186 West Dalhousie Rd.
- 2648to 3408 Thorne Rd.
- 122, 126, 126 (Unit 2) Medicraft Lane
In total, 107 homes have been evacuated since the fire began.
The Nova Scotia Department of Emergency Management has asked that residents stop donation of food, clothing and other items to the wildfire command centre in Long Lake.
“For health and safety, we can’t accept food that isn’t prepackaged and are running out of room to store donations,” the department posted on X thanking residents for their generosity.
Special air quality statement in effect
Late Saturday morning, Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement for the entirety of Annapolis Valley.
“Smoke from a local wildfire is reducing air quality in the area and locations downwind,” the statement reads. “Local smoke concentrations will vary with small changes to wind speed or direction.”
CityNews weather specialist Allister Alders said the smoke from the Long Lake wildfire is quite visible on the satellite today. He says the smoke is drifting from the southwest and west, with some light concentration over parts of southwest New Brunswick.
Environment Canada is encouraging residents to stay inside and to keep their doors and windows closed to protect indoor air quality.
If you must spend time outdoors, officials recommend wearing a properly fitted N95 to reduce exposure to the fine particles in the smoke.
Pilot ‘doing well’
DNR also stated that the helicopter pilot who crashed yesterday is ‘doing well”.
“Our pilot is doing well and we appreciate the outpouring of support from Nova Scotians,” DNR posted on X. “Our crews on the ground are doing well and keeping up the fight on the fire.”
The helicopter crashed into shallow water shortly before 4:30 p.m. Friday while it was working on the fire.
The cause of the crash is currently unknown and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which investigates all aircraft incidents, has been informed of the crash.
– With files from CityNews’ Mark Hodgins and Natasha O’Neill