Nova ScotiaThe alert says residents are asked to leave immediately and register at the reception centre at the Louis Millett Community Complex in New Minas.Evacuees are asked to check in at the reception centre in New MinasAly Thomson · CBC News · Posted: Oct 01, 2025 9:38 AM EDT | Last Updated: 25 minutes agoSmoke from the Lake George wildfire can be seen billowing in the distance in this photo taken Sept. 29. (Submitted by Tracy Colborne Jackman)More than 350 homes and cottages have been evacuated in the Lake George area of Kings County as a wildfire continues to burn out of control.The fire, which broke out Sunday, was estimated at 290 hectares Wednesday, according to a post on X from the Department of Natural Resources. The fire had been estimated at 150 hectares on Tuesday.There have been no reports of damage to any structures, the post said.An additional 78 properties were evacuated on Wednesday morning, according to Dan Stovel, the regional emergency management co-ordinator for Kings County.That brings the total number of evacuations to 353, he said. Of those, 79 are believed to be full-time residences, not cottages.Stovel said as many as 65 residents have registered with a reception centre at the Louis Millett Community Complex in New Minas, but that number was expected to grow throughout Wednesday.A tanker is seen near the Lake George wildfire on Wednesday. (Brett Ruskin/CBC)An alert issued at 10:14 a.m. AT said the new evacuations were for Aylesford Road from Fox Mountain Camping Park to 3847 Aylesford Rd., all addresses on Spruce Drive, Birch Lane and Blue Lane, and all addresses between 5 North River Rd. and 1493 North River Rd.David Corkum, mayor of the Municipality of the County of Kings, said evacuees are anxious, but they have been overwhelmed by the support from Nova Scotians. He noted one community volunteer travelled some 500 kilometres from Sydney to help out.”It’s been pretty stressful,” Corkum told CBC Radio’s Information Morning Nova Scotia on Wednesday. “They’re really, really feeling desperate and anxious and very concerned about what they’re going to go back to.”The wildfire has left other residents on edge.Akke Leyenaar is retired and lives on Aylesford Lake year-round. She’s preparing to leave in the event the Lake George wildfire heads in her direction. (Celina Aalders/CBC)Akke Leyenaar, who is retired and lives on nearby Aylesford Lake year-round, said her Jeep is packed and ready to go in the event her home becomes threatened.She said she did some of those preparations earlier in the summer, as a number of wildfires broke out in the province, including one that destroyed 20 homes in the Long Lake area of Annapolis County.”I got all of my documents together, my insurance papers and banking stuff,” said Leyenaar in an interview Wednesday, as water bombers circled overhead.”It’s stressful, but you know what, I kind of expected it and I kind of like to be prepared for stuff always. That’s the way I reduce my stress, by preparing.”A crew of 23 DNR and 20 local firefighters were helping fight the fire on Wednesday.Six planes — four from the Northwest Territories and two from Quebec — were dropping water. They were being assisted by two contracted helicopters and one from DNR.A water bomber flies near the scene of the Lake George wildfire. (Celina Aalders/CBC)Eighteen pieces of heavy equipment were on scene building fire breaks, up from six on Tuesday.Jim Rudderham, DNR’s director of fleet and forest protection, told reporters earlier this week that the cause of the fire has not been determined, but it’s presumed human activity is responsible since there has been no lightning in the area. “It’s frustrating for us and for everybody when this happens,” Rudderham said. The fire broke out just one day after the Long Lake wildfire, which began Aug. 13, was finally deemed under control.With the continued wildfire activity in Nova Scotia, the provincial government has extended wildfire season until Oct. 31.In a news release, the province said a full burn ban will remain in effect in Annapolis County and daily burn restrictions will continue to apply in all other counties to the end of the month. The fine for violations of the ban is $25,000.Wildfire season — which normally runs from March 15 to Oct. 15 — was previously extended by a week in 2016 due to drought conditions.ABOUT THE AUTHORAly Thomson is an award-winning journalist based in Halifax who loves helping the people of her home province tell their stories. She is particularly interested in issues surrounding women’s health, justice, education and the entertainment industry. You can email her with tips and feedback at aly.thomson@cbc.ca.With files from Celina Aalders, Nicola Seguin, Information Morning Nova Scotia
Hundreds of homes, cottages evacuated as wildfire burns in Kings County
