Last of Long Lake wildfire evacuees cleared to return home Saturday

Nova ScotiaAll remaining Long Lake evacuees will be allowed to return home Saturday, weeks after being forced out by the wildfire in Annapolis County.Final group includes 20 families whose properties were destroyed in the Annapolis County fireCBC News · Posted: Sep 19, 2025 2:59 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago20 homes destroyed in Long Lake wildfireNot all of the homes were primary residences. As Andrew Lam reports, the work done by crews in advance appears to have saved many homes.The last of the Annapolis County, N.S., residents forced from their homes weeks ago by the Long Lake wildfire will be allowed to return Saturday.The Department of Natural Resources said in a release Friday afternoon that the remaining evacuees must check in at 484 Morse Rd., where officials will confirm civic addresses before granting re-entry.The final 84 civic addresses that had been subject to an evacuation order will be cleared for return. That includes the 20 homes that were destroyed in the fire.”I can only imagine the relief families are feeling after being told they can come home,” Kim Masland, minister of emergency management, said in the release. “We know that 20 families will be returning and figuring out their next steps. For those who have lost their homes, my heart goes out to you.”Residents will be allowed to return in two stages: 9 a.m.: 4957-5535 West Dalhousie Rd., 1971-2708 Thorne Rd., Heartland Road and Medicraft Lane. 10 a.m.: 4527-4868 West Dalhousie Rd. and 47-265 Morse Rd. The area remains closed to the public, the municipality said in the release, and only residents will be allowed to enter.The municipality said water will be provided to affected households where well water still requires testing in the wake of the fire. Power will be restored once residents are back in their homes and waste collection will resume next week.Annapolis County council has extended the local state of emergency.The fire, which broke out on Aug. 13 in the West Dalhousie area, has burned an estimated 8,468 hectares, or more than 84 square kilometres. It is classed as being held by firefighters, which means the fire is not likely to grow or move as long as conditions do not change. But it is still not considered under control.At one point, about 500 civic addresses were evacuated, affecting more than 1,000 people.