Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources says more evacuations are possible as a fire near Lake George in the Annapolis Valley continues to burn out of control.
Residents of Birch Lane, Spruce Drive and Blue Lane at Aylesford Lake’s southwest end are being told to prepare to evacuate.
Officials say people should be ready to leave quickly with pets, medications, documents and supplies if an evacuation order is issued.
Authorities also urge residents to leave immediately if they feel unsafe.
Chris Levy, who lives just outside the evacuation zone, has not yet received an evacuation notice but decided he wasn’t going to wait for one.
“The fires have jumped fire barriers and they’ve done some strange things and I don’t really trust it. I’m so close to the evacuation area and I’m gonna leave for safety reasons. I have no choice. It’s the decision I’m making,” said Levy.
The fire has already forced evacuations between Kingswood Camp and the Fox Mountain campground, from Old Mill Lane to Simpson Cove Lane, and from Simpson Cove Lane along both sides of North River Road to Aylesford Lake Beach.
Kings County Coun. Tim Harding, whose district includes the Lake George area, estimated Monday that more than 100 homes may be affected by the evacuation order.
Dave Corkum, the mayor of Kings County, urged residents to take the evacuations seriously and go to the comfort centre that’s been set up in New Minas if needed.
“The main thing is to try to avoid any loss of life and property damage and that type of thing. So, we’re doing the best we can and [it’s] a very heartbreaking situation and our heart goes out to those people that are affected in those areas,” said Corkum.
He said the fire grew rapidly in a short amount of time. It broke out Sunday, only days after the Long Lake wildfire in Annapolis County that began Aug. 13 was finally deemed under control.
“The woods and area is still very, very dry and no rain in sight for another week or two. So it’s still a desperate situation and people have to be very, very careful. And this is a prime example of how things can get out of hand very quickly. This fire just mushroomed,” said Corkum.
Levy said rising winds in the area are creating unease and uncertainty.
“The wind is at my back right now and the fire could shift and it might blow right up through here. And I’m thinking that that’s a chance. The water bombers are doing the best they can. The fire departments, you got to give them all the credit they deserve. But these wildfires [are] just unpredictable and hard to control, especially in the wind.”
DNR said on social media Tuesday morning that a helicopter was trying to assess the size of the fire. It had grown to an estimated 300 hectares on Monday night.
A crew of 23 DNR and 20 local firefighters are on-site. Four Northwest Territories planes and one DNR and two contracted helicopters are dropping water. Four planes from Quebec were expected to arrive later Tuesday morning.
The fire is moving from the northern end of Lake George eastward toward the northern end of Aylesford Lake.
