Skip to main content

N.S. offers $500 to households under mandatory wildfire evacuation

Share

Households told to evacuate because of wildfires burning in Nova Scotia will be eligible for a $500 payment, the premier announced Monday.

It’s a first step to try and ease some of the financial stress felt by evacuees, said Tim Houston at a press conference.

He said the province is working with the Red Cross to distribute the money.

“We will be there to support you in any way we possibly can as a province.”

The province will now also pay the mileage for volunteer firefighters who need to travel to another community to fight fires, including wildfires, according to a statement from the premier's office.

It says volunteer fire departments can submit their invoices to the provincial Emergency Management Office (EMO).

At least two wildfires are burning out of control in Nova Scotia. Thousands of people have fled homes in areas around northwest Halifax, with the city in a local state of emergency.

Another fire, covering a much larger area — more than 6,200 hectares — is burning in Shelburne County. It's also caused many to flee their homes.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight

After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.

Stay Connected