Nova ScotiaFor the third straight day, the wildfire is estimated to be 3,210 hectares or roughly 32 square kilometres.Officials say winds from Hurricane Erin could move and spread the fire over the weekendAnjuli Patil · CBC News · Posted: Aug 21, 2025 3:59 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoAn aerial view of the northern flank of the fire and the dozer guard, where heavy equipment is used to remove trees, shrubs and other fire fuels to help stop or slow a fire. (Province of Nova Scotia)Natural resources officials say high winds expected from Hurricane Erin make it difficult to determine how much longer it could take before the out-of-control Long Lake wildfire in Annapolis County, N.S., is considered held.For the third straight day, the wildfire near the community of West Dalhousie was estimated Thursday to be 3,210 hectares or roughly 32 square kilometres.”Being held is when we don’t expect [the fire] to grow based on numerous factors, including the weather,” Jim Rudderham, the department’s director of fleet and forest protection, told reporters during an update on Thursday afternoon.”Obviously with this weather system coming through, we don’t know so it’s still classed as out of control. We don’t know where the fire is going to go. That’s why it’s not classified as being held yet.” Hurricane Erin, which was a Category 2 storm on Thursday, is not expected to make landfall in Nova Scotia — but the province will likely feel its strong winds.Rudderham said given that forecast, the fire is expected to move and spread over the weekend.Scott Tingley, Nova Scotia’s manager of forest protection, said crews have been focusing on the north side of the fire, using heavy equipment around the perimeter to remove fuel from out in front of the fire.”Most of the effort has been on suppressing and securing fire guards and fire breaks on that north end,” Tingley said.Department of Natural Resources firefighters sign a Nova Scotia flag during a quick break for lunch. (Province of Nova Scotia)He said the key is the crews on the ground.”The aerial support dropping water reduces the intensity. It’s really the crews on the ground that are in there with hoses and hand tools really putting out the fire on the perimeter,” he said.Crews are concentrating on a part of the fire that crossed West Dalhousie Road earlier this week, he said.”They’re focusing on trying to make that as cold as they can ahead of these wind shifts on the weekend to mitigate as much as possible any type of spread that could result from the wind shifts.”Nova Scotia has three active wildfires, including Long Lake, which started Aug. 13. The other two wildfires — Susie Lake in Halifax and Hilltown in Digby County — are considered under control.ABOUT THE AUTHORAnjuli Patil is a reporter with CBC Nova Scotia’s digital team.
How long will it take to control the N.S. wildfire? Hurricane Erin makes it hard to predict
