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Halifax Fire And Emergency Management
Nova Scotia-Emergency Alerts
Emergency Management   

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No rain forecasted for the week.
Work together, be fire smart and safe – don’t burn ANYTHING outdoors.
Take care disposing of any smoking materials.
Watch out for fires and report them immediately.
Do not use drones around affected areas as they can interfere with suppression efforts and pose a danger to first responders.

 

***Updated 9:46 pm 6/01/23***

PROVINCIAL UPDATE: 

Burn ban

As crews battle multiple fires, there is a zero-tolerance policy in effect for the duration of the outdoor burning ban. Fines will be issued against those who are burning outdoors, which includes penalties up to $25,000 (an increase from $10,000, as announced by the Province of Nova Scotia). Any person responsible for fire spread can also be required to pay all expenses related to controlling or extinguishing the fire, and all related fire damages.

The following activities are prohibited:

  • Outdoor fires
  • Campfires
  • Fireworks and other pyrotechnics

Residents are also strongly urged to properly dispose of cigarettes and other smoking materials.

The use of all off-highway vehicles is BANNED within the limits of HRM while the State of Local Emergency is in effect.

You cannot operate an aircraft or a drone within 9.3 km of wildfires. It is illegal and you could be subject to penalties.

 

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
Residents are strongly encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel due to ongoing fires in the region. Additionally, residents are reminded that the use of all off-highway vehicles is banned within the limits of the Halifax Regional Municipality while the State of Local Emergency is in effect. First responder resources are currently stretched very thin as they battle the fires and this ban will ensure resources are not redirected to deal with other incidents.

PARKS AND TRAILS-CLOSURE NOTICE
In addition to the Province’s wooded area restrictions, the municipality is closing wooded areas of municipal parks and all municipal trails as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31. Parks such as Shubie Park, Point Pleasant Park and Admiral Cove Park will be fully closed.

EVACUEES and Halifax Hotels – Please ask your hotel if they have an evacuation rate if you have been evacuated. Many hotels have stepped up to support people who have been evacuated.

 

COMFORT CENTRES
The comfort centres are:

  • Black Point and Area Community Centre | 8579 St Margarets Bay Road. The comfort centre will open at 7 a.m. on May 29 and remain open until further notice. 
  • Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre |  1583 Beaver Bank Road. The comfort centre is open until further notice.

Comfort centres are temporary accommodations where food and water are provided, as well as a place to charge devices and receive up-to-date information, when residents are impacted by prolonged power outages, extreme temperatures or other significant events.

 

EVACUATION CENTRE
Canada Games Centre | 26 Thomas Raddall Drive. The evacuation centre is open until further notice.

An evacuation centre is a type of emergency facility which is opened when residents have to be evacuated from their homes due to a specific emergency event and where evacuees are received, needs are identified, and food, water and overnight accommodations are provided.

Residents who are close to the fire are advised to close all windows and doors, shut down air exchangers and stay inside until air quality conditions improve. Residents who are close to the fire are also advised to monitor the situation and be prepared to evacuate. Residents who are required to evacuate should bring their pets, medication and supplies for 72 hours.

Residents are not allowed to return to their homes until they are advised that it is safe to do so by municipal authorities.Residents must remain clear of the area and refrain from filming and taking photos of the fire area, including flying personal drones.

DISASTER ANIMAL RESPONSE TEAM OF NOVA SCOTIA (DARTNS) has been activated by our partners the Canadian Red Cross and will be setting up a shelter at the Canada Games Centre, 26 Thomas Raddall Drive in Halifax. For updates, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@dartnscomms and Instagram (dartnscomms). Have an emergency kit ready to go for you, your family and your pet in case you have to be evacuated due the current forest fires. For more information visit their website: www.dartns.org

SCHOOL CLOSURES

 

In addition to Hammonds Plains Consolidated and Madeline Symonds Middle School (announced as closed for the week yesterday), the following schools are closed tomorrow, Friday, June 2, based on their location in the Local State of Emergency Zone and/or proximity to active fires:

  • Bay View High School
  • Tantallon Junior Elementary
  • Tantallon Senior Elementary
  • Five Bridges Junior High
  • St. Margaret’s Bay Elementary
  • Kingswood Elementary
  • Charles P. Allen High School
  • Basinview Drive Community School
  • Bedford South School
  • Harry R. Hamilton Elementary
  • Millwood Elementary
  • Millwood High School
  • Sackville Heights Elementary
  • Sackville Heights Junior High

An update will be provided on Sunday evening regarding school closures for Monday.

HALIFAX TRANSIT BUS ROUTES
The following routes are currently impacted:

Route 330 – Route 330 will start and end at Sheldrake Lake (3826 St. Margarets Bay Road). There will be no service to Tantallon Park and Ride (3664 Hammonds Plains Road)

Route 433 – Route 433 will start and end at West Bedford Park and Ride (120 Innovation Drive). There will be no service on Hammonds Plains Road from Gary Martin Drive to Tantallon Park and Ride

Route 83/183 – Route 83/183 will end on Crossfield Ridge. The bus will then turn right on Sackville Drive and right onto Melham Drive. Routes 83/183 will hold on Melham Drive before departing heading back to Sackville Terminal (7 Walker Avenue)

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