Nova ScotiaSome stores are offering free food to first responders at the Susies Lake fire near Bayers Lake Business Park.Some stores are offering free food to first responders at Susies Lake fireCBC News · Posted: Aug 13, 2025 4:28 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoA number of businesses along the west side of Chain Lake Drive were closed late Wednesday morning to help manage traffic issues. (Olivia Piercey/CBC)Business owners close to a Halifax wildfire are trying to make the best of a difficult situation after the blaze prompted evacuations and road closures.The fire near Bayers Lake Business Park began on Tuesday around 2:30 p.m. AT. As of late Wednesday morning, the blaze was still deemed out of control and estimated to be about 15 hectares.A mandatory evacuation is in place for all businesses on the west side of Chain Lake Drive between the off-ramp of Highway 102 and Julius Boulevard. That area includes the addresses at 205, 213 and 225 Chain Lake Dr.Parts of Chain Lake Drive, the main thoroughfare in the business park, were closed on Tuesday, but the street is now open in both directions. However, access points to the parking lots along the west side of the street from Julius Boulevard to Kent Building Supplies are closed.Julius Boulevard also remains closed, as well as Susie Lake Crescent between Julius Boulevard and Hobsons Lake Drive.The municipality has asked residents to avoid unnecessary travel into the Bayers Lake area in order to reduce traffic congestion and allow emergency crews to respond to the fire. ‘I just felt like I had to do something’Aaron Armstrong is the owner of the Great British Shop in the business park. He said “it was quite a scary moment for us” when the fire broke out on Tuesday.”I think with the smoke being so close, the pictures I saw, it looked like it was literally right at the back door,” said Armstrong, who was not at the shop at the time. Armstrong immediately sent his staff home, and as they were closing the doors, the police came and told them they had to evacuate the store.He went home and watched the fire from his balcony, which overlooks the area. “It seemed like it was rapidly expanding and it was just going to get more scary and more anxious as the minutes went by.”He said he felt more reassured when water bombers began dropping water on the fire.On Wednesday, Armstrong kept the store closed to the public, but open to anyone involved in the effort to combat the fire — including fire crews, police, traffic control or anyone else involved in the emergency response — to come in and enjoy some food or drink on the house.”I just felt like I had to do something to say thank you,” he said. “It’s all kind of hearty. It’s not healthy — it’s sausage rolls and meat pies — but it’s filling and it’s an honest meal. So it’s good grub if they need some refuelling.”‘A beautiful buffet of food’Montana’s BBQ & Bar was initially open on Wednesday, but also decided to close to the public and focus on preparing food for first responders.Franchisee Sylvia Corning said a skeleton crew was on hand to make the takeout feast.”There’s gonna be so much delicious ribs. We’re gonna have mac and cheese, potato skins, spinach dip,” she said.Sylvia Corning is the franchisee at the Montana’s BBQ & Bar in Bayers Lake Business Park. (CBC)”There’s gonna be a beautiful buffet of food and hopefully they can nourish their souls with a little bit of Montana’s barbecue and continue to do the amazing work that they’re doing to keep us safe.”Corning said the act of kindness is a way of doing something good in a tough situation.”We’re really happy to be able to turn an unfavourable event into something positive,” she said.’We all gotta do our part’At the 5K Cafe, manager Sebastian Hurd said it was “definitely scary” on Tuesday as the smoke began rolling into the sky. “It was like pretty uneasy here and definitely where you’re getting some flashbacks from a few years ago when similar things were happening,” he said, referring to the 2023 Nova Scotia wildfires.Sebastian Hurd is the manager of the 5K Cafe in Bayers Lake Business Park. He says the business is prepared to evacuate if it needs to. (Radio-Canada)The cafe, which is located farther away from the fire, is open on Wednesday, but Hurd said he’s keeping an eye on the news and weather in case the evacuation area expands.Hurd said the business is near the Chain of Lakes Trail and usually sees a lot of business from runners, hikers, in-line skaters and walkers. But since the province implemented a ban on travel in wooded areas due to the wildfire risk, the traffic at 5K Cafe has dropped significantly.”It’s really sucked,” he said. But he acknowledged that it’s important to stick together.”We all gotta do our part and be there for each other as a community.”WATCH | Highlights from wildfire news conference on Wednesday: Susies Lake fire has shrunk, but is still out of controlWatch highlights from an update provided by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Department of Natural Resources forest manager Scott Tingley on the wildfire.With files from Radio-Canada, Maritime Noon and Olivia Piercey
Business owners make best of bad situation as Halifax wildfire burns nearby
