Long Lake wildfire growing, evacuation area expanded

Crews clear trees and brush creating wide paths of bare soil called dozer guards at the Long Lake wildfire. Photo by Nova Scotia GovernmentArticle contentStrong southerly winds, low humidity and high temperatures fueled growth of the Long Lake Wildfire on Sunday afternoon. “This is the day we’ve been planning for,” Scott Tingley, manager of forest protection for the Department of Natural Resources, told media on Sunday afternoon. “We knew the storm would pass South of us on Friday. We knew this particular Sunday would be dry and windy. The forecast was quite accurate.”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 contentArticle contentAs of Saturday evening the fire was estimated at 3,255 hectares, with a front burning within one kilometre of the West Dalhousie Road. With the helicopters it uses to map the fire’s size engaged in fighting the fire, Tingley couldn’t provide an updated size. On Sunday afternoon the Annapolis County Regional Emergency Management Organization expanded the mandatory evacuation area. New areas under mandatory evacuation orders include: Morse Road: Civic numbers 571 to 10273. Thorne Road: 4272 to 4291. Some 18 civic numbers are covered by this evacuation. All those evacuating are directed to register at the Bridgetown Fire Hall at 31 Bay Road. “My heart goes out to the residences who have been evacuated,” said Jim Rudderham, director of fleet and forest protection at DNR. “I can’t imagine all this time out of their homes. We feel for them and we wish we could do more”Article contentArticle contentArticle contentStrong winds and what DNR dubbed “cross over conditions” were pushing the fire to expand in multiple directions, including toward the community of West Dalhousie. The encroaching fire front led DNR to relocate its command centre to Bridgetown on Saturday evening.Article contentSix water bombers, six helicopters, bird-dog aircraft, 56 DNR firefighters, 62 wildland firefighters from Ontario, along with 54 members from local volunteer departments are working the fire on Sunday. Volunteer departments from further away, including Italy Cross, Dayspring, New Ross and Quinan, were also called in with tankers to protect homes on the West Dalhousie Road. Those departments set up sprinkler systems and water supply fed by portable pumps around homes, other structures and along the road and forest. “Crews will run and monitor those systems in the area for as long as possible,” said Rudderham. “When and if personnel have to leave the area for safety reasons, they will leave them running.”