Fires in the Halifax Regional Municipality

Text reads evacuation zone.

NOTICE: On Thursday, June 8, the municipality will announce a confirmed date and time for when most residents in Phase 3, whose homes are outside of the area of significant impact, can return to their homes. It is anticipated that the return date and time will be prior to the afternoon of Friday, June 9.  More details.

Evacuation zone

See areas where the evacuation order has been lifted.

The map below shows the fire evacuation area, including the area of significant impact.

Local state of emergency map

Approximately 4,100 residents remain displaced from the evacuation area, which is down from 16,492 at the peak of the fires.

The status of the evacuation area continues to be assessed and an update on any changes will be shared immediately after a decision has been made. 

Nova Scotia Power will re-energize power to the communities when it is deemed safe for residents to return.

NOTICE: Residents are not allowed to return to their homes until they are advised that it is safe to do so by municipal authorities.

text reads recovery efforts

Recovery efforts

Recovery efforts are underway and risks need to be assessed before further evacuation orders are lifted. 

The fire, which impacted an estimated area of 950 hectares, is contained; however, hot spots and flare ups continue in some areas and remain a safety risk.

Before allowing residents in Phase 3, whose homes are outside of the area of significant impact to return to their homes, the municipality must complete its review of municipal and utility infrastructure, as well as install appropriate traffic controls through fire-damaged areas to allow for safe access. 

The municipality will continue to provide regular updates summarizing key developments of the recovery phase. This will include estimates regarding when residents in the evacuation area may return to their homes. 

text reads well water

Well-water safety

After a wildfire, well water may be contaminated with bacteria and chemicals that can make you sick. Contamination can come from the fire itself and from chemicals that seep into the water supply if items such as oil tanks are damaged. 

The municipality is facilitating the distribution of well-water testing kits for residents with wells in the evacuation area after they have returned to their properties. The Province of Nova Scotia is providing the well-water test kits and facilitating the testing process.

Residents with wells in the evacuation area must not drink their well water until the testing is complete and they have results indicating it is safe to drink. 

The capacity of lab testing determines the quantity of kits that can be distributed at any time. The sample can only be collected after the resident has completed a multi-day process that includes disinfecting their well, as outlined by provincial guidelines.

Completed test kits, with a sample of the resident’s well water, must be returned to the below drop-off locations within 24 hours of the sample being collected in order for labs to process valid results.

Well-water testing kits are available at the following times and locations:

Well-water testing kits
Pick-up: Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre (711 Pockwock Road, Hammonds Plains) Drop-off: Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre (711 Pockwock Road, Hammonds Plains)
Pick-up: Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre (711 Pockwock Road, Hammonds Plains) Drop-off: Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre (711 Pockwock Road, Hammonds Plains)
Residents can pick up a test kit on: And then drop off the completed sample no earlier than:
Wednesday, June 7 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, June 12 | Before 12 noon
Thursday, June 8 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 13 | Before 12 noon
Friday, June 9 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 14 | Before 12 noon

NOTE: Change in time and location: Residents who picked up kits on Tuesday, June 6 must now drop off completed samples to the Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre (711 Pockwock Road, Hammonds Plains) on Sunday, June 11 before 12 noon. 

Access to drinking water

Halifax Water has set up water stations where residents can fill their own containers with drinking water. These stations are self-serve, and are available at the following locations:
•    134 Micmac Drive – Micmac Drive Park
•    290 White Hills Run – Madeline Symonds Middle School
•    297 Pockwock Road – White Hills Care Centre
•    711 Pockwock Road – Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre

text reads Resources for residents returning to properties

Resources for residents returning to properties

Residents returning to homes that have not been directly impacted by fire damage can access provincial information on health and safety considerations.

The Canadian Red Cross Guide to Wildfire Recovery is another valuable resource for those preparing to return to their communities after an evacuation.

The Nova Scotia Power Wildfires Response webpage provides information on outage restoration and electrical safety. A reference guide to important electrical safety steps: Nova Scotia Power Wildfires Response & Re-entry Factsheet.

The Province of Nova Scotia is a valuable resource for mental health support available for children, youth and adults. 

Those who have evacuated are advised that, if they do not have access to their medication, they can contact any pharmacy and request a renewal. For more information, please see the guidelines provided by the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia.

To allow for prompt disposal of spoiled food, the municipality is providing drop-off bins for residents that experienced power loss during the mandatory evacuation. Packaged food is permitted. Glass containers and leaf/yard waste is not permitted. Get the latest updates regarding garbage collection and bins for food waste 

Access information regarding well water safety above, for those residents who have returned to their property and rely on well water.

For those residents who have not yet been able to return to their homes, the municipality will be providing regular updates summarizing key developments of the recovery phase. This will include estimates regarding when residents in the evacuation area may return to their homes.   

Officers remain patrolling evacuated neighbourhoods and at checkpoints. If you have any information with regard to suspicious activity in or around evacuated areas, contact Halifax Regional Police or Crime Stoppers.

Areas where evacuation orders have been lifted 

Upper Hammonds Plains area (Phase 2)  (access to the area is now available via Pockwock Road. The following roadways are not accessible and residents cannot return to properties on the streets in the area of significant impact: Bonsai Drive, Cypress Court and Yew Street)

Phase 1A - Glen Arbour Subdivision map

Phase 1B - Area east of Stillwater Lake and south of Hammonds Plains Road map

Lucasville Area, including Timber Trails

Hammonds Plains Area - Kingswood neighbourhood 

Stillwater Lake/Haliburton Hills Area

Tantallon Plaza


 

For the latest information, see below. 

Damage to homes or structures

More than 200 structures have been destroyed as a result of the fires, approximately 150 of which are homes. A full assessment of the damage is ongoing.

The municipality has been contacting residents who have registered as evacuees of the area of significant impact. To date, staff have had phone conversations with most residents as well as face-to-face discussions as follow up for those whose homes have been destroyed. 

Installation of gravel gated emergency exits

The municipality is exercising its powers during the State of Local Emergency to build two permanent gravel gated emergency exits on municipal land to provide additional travel options in an emergency, such as these fires. 
1.    A clearing from the Haliburton Hills subdivision to connect Buckingham Drive to Highway 103. The gravel portion of this exit is completed and gate has been installed.
2.    A clearing from the Highland Park subdivision, from the end of Sylvania Terrace to Hammonds Plains Road. Construction has started and will continue for the balance of the week.

Any consideration of additional emergency exits in the areas impacted by the recent fires will be determined on a case-by-case basis as part of the recovery efforts.

Parks & Recreation

Further to the provincial announcement regarding Changes to Restrictions on Travel and Activities in the Woods, municipal parks and trails – except those in areas with evacuation orders in place – are re-opened as of Monday, June 5.

In accordance with By-Law P-600, Respecting Municipal Parks, no campfires or open fires are permitted in municipal parks.

Solid Waste 

Get the latest information on drop-off bin locations, waste collection details and instructions for disposing of refrigerators/ freezers.

Cybersecurity

Halifax Regional Police are warning residents of a potential scam related to emergency evacuation orders and remind people to monitor official government channels for direction on emergency evacuation situations and fire updates. The municipality is aware of ongoing scam texts regarding residents’ pets. Residents are reminded to always verify the source of calls, and to not give personal information to unknown callers.

Public service announcements