Article contentArticle content The West Dalhousie wildfire is seen from a West Dalhousie home on Wednesday night, Aug. 13, 2025. Photo by Sindy SchofieldArticle contentArticle contentOf course, people in these communities can’t help but think of the 2023 wildfires that ate up more than 25,000 hectares and burned more than 250 homes to the ground.Article content“The 2023 fires happened in the spring – they were hot, fast moving fires but the ground and fuels had not had a chance yet to get really, really dry,” Jim Rudderham, with the Department of Natural Resources, told Postmedia.Article content” … Now, those fuels are extremely dry. Even large tree stumps, logs, everything is extremely dry.”Article contentThe fires in the neighbouring provinces caused so much smoke over P.E.I., Island fire departments posted on social media that people should look for a column of smoke or see actual flames before calling 911 about smelling something burning.Article contentArticle content Look for visible fire or a column of smoke before calling 911 about smelling burning, this post suggests to P.E.I. residents smelling and seeing smoke in the air from neighbouring provinces. Photo by Twitter.comArticle contentArticle contentIn Newfoundland and Labrador, the situation has been more dire, with some 800 hectares on fire in Kingston, swallowing up 100 homes as of this writing.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentFood and waterArticle contentBesides the immediate danger to life and property, the lack of rain is making water conservation necessary and putting the growing season under duress.Article content“Right now, we’re all looking for some water,” Ian Simmons, co-owner of Kool Breeze Farms in Summerside told The Guardian. “Every plant I think of on the Island right now, whether it’s a corn crop, a potato crop, or a pumpkin crop, is all looking for a little water to help it finish off.”Article contentIn Cape Breton, the regional municipality’s mayor is asking residents to conserve water as reports of private wells running dry have reached his office.Article contentMayor Cecil Clarke said, “With regards to the extended heat and drought process and period we are in, the impact on our community, and our citizens, is about an abundance of caution and care, (especially) with the ongoing concern as a result of the water deficit we’re experiencing at this time.”Article contentArticle contentArticle content Due to factors such as lack of precipitation, corn crop leaves can turn yellow, causing potential impacts in terms of its yield and production once it’s harvested. Photo by Yutaro Sasaki /Local Journalism InitiativeArticle contentArticle contentCollective well-beingArticle contentWith the fear and dread surrounding these events across the region, it’s pretty hard to feel completely at ease while basking on my beach towel.Article contentWhile there is not a whole lot I can do about the situation, I am happy to follow the advice of fire officials and conservationists.Article contentThe thing about Atlantic Canada being a small place is, we are all used to pitching in and helping each other out. By and large, we think collectively about problems instead of insisting on individual rights. Think the Atlantic Bubble from the COVID-19 lockdown times.Article contentArticle content Closed signs hang on both entrance posts at East Bay Hills Trail in Cape Breton on Aug. 11, in compliance with the Nova Scotia government’s woods use ban, due to high fire risk and extremely dry conditions, which Premier Tim Houston announced on Aug. 6. NICOLE SULLIVAN / CAPE BRETON POSTArticle contentArticle contentMost of us will willingly follow prohibitions against lighting recreational fires and abide by bans against entering the woods. We’ll resist the urge to wash our cars and keep apprised of evacuation orders.Article contentJason Calnen is an N.S. ATVer who visited Newfoundland with his rig before the province instituted a ban against off-road vehicle use where the fire index is high. He could be forgiven for being disappointed that his trip is impacted.Article contentInstead, he told Postmedia, “Oh, 100 per cent they did the right thing.”Article contentAs fire departments, farmers and property owners with drying wells wish for rain, I will add my prayers to theirs even as I sit in the sun and avoid sprinkling my brown, crunchy lawn. After all, I’m conserving water.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentJocelyne Lloyd is managing editor of The Guardian. She lives in Charlottetown.Article content
JOCELYNE LLOYD: Its a cruel, cruel summer
