Premier Tim Houston says there are 16 fires burning in the province, 200 homes have been destroyed and nearly 20-thousand people have left their homes.
Houston says the numbers are “breathtaking.” The province is getting an influx of about 100 American firefighters on Monday to help battle major blazes near Halifax and Shelburne County.
Ottawa also says it has approved the Nova Scotia government’s latest request for assistance, and the Canadian Armed Forces is preparing to provide extensive support.
The largest wildfire ever recorded in Nova Scotia continued to grow yesterday as a fire in the province’s southwest corner kept Shelburne on edge.
Officials say the massive Barrington Lake fire in Shelburne County has grown to more than 200 square kilometres despite a constant bombardment of water and fire retardant from water bombers and air tankers.
A smaller fire that started Wednesday also flared up in the high winds and dry conditions, prompting evacuations south of Shelburne.
The two fires have forced more than five-thousand people from their homes and cottages, 50 of which have been consumed by flames.
The Town of Trenton is advising that because of the restrictions set by the Province, the wooded trail system in Trenton is closed to the public effective immediately.
This includes the Town’s wooded trails at Trenton Park: the Morash Trail, Founders Trail, Tree O Trail, and the Durham Trail, as well as the Airport Trail from Park Road to Smelt Brook Park.
Gasoline and diesel prices both went down overnight in Nova Scotia. Gasoline prices went down by half a cent per litre putting the minimum pump price for regular self serve gasoline at 157.0 cents per litre locally.
Diesel prices dropped by 3.7 cents per litre, putting the minimum pump price for diesel at 136.3 cents per litre in the local area.
Halifax police have charged two more men in an ongoing human trafficking investigation.
They say a 49-year-old man and 33-year-old man were arrested this past week.
Police say they began the investigation in January after receiving reports of ongoing human trafficking in the area.
A 40-year-old man was arrested last month and faces 44 charges related to the investigation.
