Uncertainty remains for Halifax-area evacuees as wildfire 100 per cent contained
In the days since he lost his home in the wildfires that swept through his Halifax-area subdivision, Dwayne Melnick has had a mission to focus on: find a place to stay. Speak to insurance companies and contractors. Begin making a list of belongings for insurance purposes.
Focusing, he said, helps him keep moving forward.
"I'm retired military of a long career, so I'm able to focus on the mission," he said in a phone interview. "But at a certain point the emotions take over as well. So it comes and goes."
Officials said Sunday the wildfire that tore through the Halifax area is 100 per cent contained. Nova Scotia's natural resources department said the Tantallon fire northwest of the provincial capital's downtown is now under control, meaning it is not expected to grow but is not yet out.
But for the thousands of residents who were forced from their homes, uncertainty and questions remain.
Melnick said he has no doubt that he wants to rebuild his home, but he's not sure how long it will take, even though he's already started to speak with contractors.
"I know there has to be a lot of environmental procedures to take place first before they can even look at breaking ground or tearing down the old foundation," he said. "But like I said, I got an early jump on things just to stay focused."
While the 49-year-old was able to safely leave his Hammonds Plains-area home along with his wife and two dogs, he's still hoping for good news about their cat, Brooklyn, who was outside when the fire came and remains missing.
The blaze broke out a week ago, forcing 16,000 people from their suburban homes and damaging or destroying some 200 structures, including 151 homes.
Dave Steeves, a technician of forest resources with the natural resources department, said the fire may be contained but is far from over. What follows, he said, will be a "labour-intensive process" of going from home to home to ensure all hot spots are extinguished and that everything is safe for residents.
Residents from the worst-hit areas anxiously lined up on Sunday at a sports facility that has been turned into a resource centre, with many hoping for news or photos of their homes.
Neighbours hugged and chatted outside the doors. Some left with relieved smiles; others in tears.
Nicole Boudreau, a resident of the Hammonds Plains area, was among those eager for information.
"We don't really know anything right now, to be honest," she said. "We think our house is still standing. We haven't heard that it's not."
Boudreau, whose household includes two children and her 89-year-old mother, said she's grateful everyone got out safely but is "very anxious to know what the next step is."
Jackie Norrie, another resident, said she also believes her home is still standing, based on aerial photos and from what she's heard from her neighbours.
She said that while people whose residences have been badly damaged or destroyed have been sent photos or allowed to view them through the windows on a bus tour, other residents are struggling to get information about their properties.
The city told residents on Saturday it could take up to 14 days for people of the hardest-hit areas to be allowed back. Officials have said firefighters need to ensure all hot spots are extinguished, and infrastructure such as roads and electrical grids need to be checked.
On Sunday, more residents were being allowed home when the evacuation order was lifted for two more areas near the fire. Halifax Mayor Mike Savage told a briefing that the city was moving to the "recovery phase," but that people in the hardest-hit zones "must be prepared to be out for a number of days yet."
Norrie said she understands that residents can't go back immediately, but she just wants to know her home is safe.
"Pictures, video, anything. We just want to know," she said.
Deputy Fire Chief David Meldrum warned that residents can expect to see "a lot of difficult things" when they're finally allowed to return home to the hardest-hit areas.
"They'll see properties which are simply nothing but foundations at this time," he told an afternoon briefing. "They'll see outbuildings that are destroyed, garages and sheds. They'll see vehicles destroyed or damaged."
Others will see melted siding or holes in their walls where fire was dug out, he said. Others will find their properties untouched, even if those next door have been burned.
"The random nature of the destruction is quite startling," he said.
In Shelburne County, meanwhile, the Barrington Lake wildfire -- the largest in the province's history -- continues to burn out of control.
The blaze covered 250 square kilometres as of Sunday morning and has destroyed at least 50 homes and cottages.
Dave Rockwood, of Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources, said two more smaller fires in the province had been brought under control, which will allow more resources to be shifted to fighting the Barrington Lake fire. He said crews were being helped by steady rain that had already dumped 35 millimetres on the area as of morning.
Premier Tim Houston told the briefing that the improved situation means the province can lift the ban on activity and travel in the woods as of midnight Sunday. He noted that a burn ban in still in effect, and anyone who violates it can be subjected to a $25,000 fine.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2023.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Have you been removed from your family doctor’s patient list for visiting an Ontario walk-in clinic?
Some Ontarians are expressing frustration after they said that they were removed from their family doctor’s patient list for visiting a walk-in clinic in a process being called “de-rostering.”