'This thing has grown some teeth': Shelburne County wildfire growing, still out-of-control
The largest wildfire in Nova Scotia is growing and still out-of-control, the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables said Friday.
The wildfire in Shelburne County, about 180 kilometres southwest of Halifax, covers more than 20,500 hectares.
“This thing has grown some teeth,” said Dave Rockwood, a Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR) public information officer, in a Friday news conference.
It started in Barrington Lake Sunday and has displaced more than 5,500 people.
EMERGENCY ALERT
An emergency alert was sent out at about 4:20 p.m. Friday, issuing a mandatory evacuation order in Shelburne County for 2461 Upper Clyde Road to McGills Road (McGill Lake area of the Upper Clyde Road).
The alert stated the Barrington Lake wildfire is traveling further up the Upper Clyde Road.
Evacuees are advised to register with Shelburne EMO by calling 902-637-7899.
A comfort centre has been established at the Sandy Wickens Memorial Arena.
FIGHTING FIRE
Groups of Department of Natural Resources and Renewables firefighters take part in a morning briefing as a wildfire continues to burn in Shelburne County, N.S. (Courtesy: Communications Nova Scotia)
Dozens of firefighters from the province and other departments and agencies are on the ground. But work is being stalled by onlookers getting too close, said Rockwood.
“We’ve had many occasions they are hindering our operations,” he said.
Aircraft can’t drop water when people are in the area of operation and structures have been lost because of it, he said.
“We need people to stay out of our area.”
He said small fires, caused by embers in the wind, have cropped up as far as five kilometres away over the last week.
Three other wildfires in Nova Scotia are considered out of control. The federal government is sending equipment and personnel to assist with firefighting efforts.
The other wildfire in the county, near Lake Road in Shelburne, is burning out-of-control over 114 hectares and is being fought by 23 DNRR firefighters.
After flying over the area Friday, Rockwood said he had a good feeling about it.
“The boys and girls in the woods … It’s almost like they’re running with those hoses.”
A DNRR crew fighting wildfires in the North West Territories was called back to Nova Scotia earlier this week and arrived in Shelburne Thursday.
“They had a quick briefing yesterday and they are on the ground boots running,” Rockwood said.
A group of American firefighters from the East Coast are expected in the province Friday, and will head down to Shelburne County.
Rockwood said officials are working on an updated number of structures lost and will share it as soon as possible.
Five helicopters and about ten planes are in the sky. Waterbombers from Montana are enroute as well.
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated home page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE @ 1:15 PT B.C. premier to give announcement related to public drug use
B.C.'s premier is scheduled to give an update Friday about public drug use in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.