There are three main wildfires burning out of control in Nova Scotia, and as a result, Premier Tim Houston says the province has banned all travel and activity in all wooded areas.

The ban applies to all forestry, mining, hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, off-road vehicle driving and all commercial activity on Crown lands.

The Westwood Hills – Tantallon wildfire, estimated at 788 hectares, remains out of control.

Fire crews are responding to increased fire activity in the Taylor Lake and Sandy Lake areas of Hammonds Plains.

Some residents in Bedford have been ordered to evacuate their homes because of the wildfire and an ammonia leak.

Fire officials say that with the return of dry, windy conditions, there could have been a dangerous “reburn” caused by a change in wind direction over the evacuated subdivisions.

While firefighters were kept busy putting out spot fires, Halifax Fire deputy chief David Meldrum says the fire did not grow beyond the evacuation perimeter.

There are 46 Department of Natural Resources and Renewables firefighters, and 100 Halifax Regional Municipality and Department of National Defence firefighters on scene.

Three helicopters are also on scene.

 

A group from the Yankeetown subdivision northwest of Halifax has been led through what remains of their properties by the R-C-M-P to retrieve pets, after a wildfire swept through the area.

Close to 200 homes and structures have been either damaged or destroyed since the fire started.

The thousands of residents who fled their homes because of the wildfire burning in suburban Halifax are being asked to register with the municipality.

Halifax Regional Councillor Pam Lovelace says people should call 3-1-1 and register as an evacuee so that officials can reach out and ensure their safety.

No injuries have been reported since the blaze started Sunday in Upper Tantallon.

 

The Barrington Lake – Shelburne County wildfire is out of control, covering 19,000 hectares.

There are 50 Department of Natural Resources and Renewables firefighters, 40 volunteer firefighters, and four helicopters on scene.

Some structures have been destroyed and others are threatened, but there are no firm details on the numbers yet.

 

The Pubnico – Yarmouth County, wildfire is out of control, covering 100 hectares.

A total of 14 Department of Natural Resources and Renewables firefighters and several volunteer firefighters are on the scene.

 

Premier Houston issued a plea to Nova Scotians asking them to stop burning, to stop flicking cigarette butts out their car windows.

 

 

 

New Glasgow Regional Police and the New Glasgow Fire Department are investigating two acts of arson that occurred in a wooded area behind the Aberdeen Hospital on East River Road in New Glasgow.

The fire was reported at 4:35 pm on Tuesday.

When they arrived on scene, police and fire officials discovered two fires within several feet of each other, and the preliminary investigation has determined that the fires were intentionally set.

No one was injured and the fires was safely extinguished.

New Glasgow Regional Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying those involved and for any information that may assist in the investigation.