'They lost everything': Halifax evacuees grapple with new normal
Officials gave the outside world its first look inside the destruction from the Halifax-area wildfires Tuesday.
Greg Cruikshanks describes the damage to his neighbourhood as, “something out of a Stephen King movie.”
He says he saw blackened and scorched landscapes; homes and cars destroyed.
Cruikshanks' property was saved but he says he feels for those not as fortunate.
“For the people that lost their home, whatever we’re going through is minor compared to what [they’re] experiencing.”
The wildfire was first reported May 28 in Upper Tantallon, about 25 kilometres northwest of downtown Halifax. It moved east and grew to more than 800 hectares. More than 16,000 people were displaced at the height of evacuations. Officials say the fire is now contained.
While some homes burned to the ground, others close-by did not. Dave Meldrum, deputy chief of Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, says wind and topography randomized the fire’s path.
“It threw embers up into the air, which landed hundreds of metres in front of the flame front,” Meldrum said.
Airborne embers then landed on properties.
“Around the homes, on the back decks,” he said.
Linda Dwyer’s home is still standing but damage to the homes of some friends and family has been staggering.
“Even my paper guy, it’s been 30 year, he’s going to New Brunswick. They lost everything,” Dwyer said, her voice breaking.
Some of those able to go home have to test for contaminated well water, but the Halifax Regional Municipality has temporarily run out of testing kits.
The Hammonds Plains Road, a main artery, reopened to traffic Tuesday morning.
The municipality is asking residents who know their home is in the “area of significant impact” to register with officials by calling 311 or visiting the HRM website.
SCHOOLS
All Halifax area schools reopened Tuesday.
The Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) says the following schools have been inspected and no air quality concerns have been reported:
- Bay View High
- Hammonds Plains Consolidated
- Kingswood Elementary
- Madeline Symonds Middle School
HRCE says the schools have been cleaned and the air filters have been replaced.
Additional support staff will also be at the schools over the coming days to help students in need.
FOOD WASTE
The HRM is providing drop-off food waste bins for residents in Phase 1 and Phase 2 areas that experienced power loss during the mandatory evacuation.
There will be drop-off bins at the following locations on Tuesday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.:
- 20 Greenhill Rd. at the tennis courts
- 19 Glen Arbour Way at Eisenhauer Park
- 446 Sandwick Dr. at Sandwick Park
- 1452 White Hills Run at White Hills Park
- 120 Cedarcrest Dr. at Salty Dips Park
- 134 Micmac Dr. at Micmac Park
For the latest Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Saskatchewan households will continue to receive carbon tax rebate: Trudeau
Households in Saskatchewan will continue to receive Canada Carbon Rebate payments, despite the province refusing to remit the federal carbon price on natural gas, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.
'It's just so hard to let it go': Umar Zameer still haunted by death of Toronto police officer
'We hoped for this day, but we were scared that it would not never ever come because it took so long.' That’s what Umar Zameer, the man recently acquitted in the death of a Toronto police officer, told CTV News Toronto in a sit-down interview on Tuesday.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.