Fire crews hope their dozer guards and other work on the north end of the Long Lake wildfire will continue to protect about 70 homes in the area. Photo by Province of Nova ScotiaArticle contentCrews working the Long Lake wildfire in Annapolis County are bracing for what the weekend holds after the wind effects from hurricane Erin started being felt in Nova Scotia on Friday afternoon.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentOfficials say three days of increased and shifting winds will likely see the fire grow for the first time in days. Gusts were expected of more than 50 kilometres an hour Friday, and winds of more than 40 km/h are forecast for Sunday after they change direction.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe fire still hadn’t grown Friday morning from the 3,210 hectares that it reached Sunday, and three dozen pieces of heavy equipment were still building dozer breaks around the fire to try to keep it from spreading beyond the area it has already burned.Article contentThat work was finished around the north end of the fire, where it was threatening homes in West Dalhousie, and guards were being expanded on the flanks of the fire wherever possible. Crews were also spending Friday working on putting out hotspots along the borders and soaking the edges with water to try to limit potential spread from the wind.Article contentThere were 145 wildland and volunteer firefighters working the fire Friday morning, with another 20 or so members of a wildland crew from Ontario expected to arrive in the province later in the day.Article contentSix helicopters and six planes were still dropping water on the fire Friday morning, but the Department of Natural Resources wasn’t saying whether they might have to stop operating because of the winds.Article contentMore fire department tankers were headed to the fire Friday morning to continue moving water to supply the sprinkler systems protecting homes and two communication towers.Article contentWith the winds increasing and shifting, Andrew Mitton, the director of regional operations for the Department of Emergency Management, said more volunteer firefighters could be called to help protect homes again, as happened Sunday night.Article content“We’ll definitely assess that, but the key thing is safety so we want to make sure everyone is safe in the operation.”Article content
Wind effects from hurricane reach Nova Scotia as crews attempt to prevent them from spreading Long Lake fire
