Nova Scotia’s Long Lake fire intensifies, forcing more evacuation orders

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This article was published 24/08/2025 (391 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Officials in Nova Scotia expanded an evacuation order Sunday night after officials warned of “a challenging day” ahead in the fight against an out-of-control wildfire raging in the province’s Annapolis County.

The Department of Emergency Management asked people living along a stretch of Highway 10 in the West Dalhousie area to leave their homes as the Long Lake wildfire roared nearby.

It was the second time on Sunday that officials were forced to expand the evacuation order for the Long Lake fire. Earlier in the day, officials issued an emergency alert asking people living along some parts of Morse Road and Thorne Road to flee.

The fire had crossed Thorne Road and West Dalhousie Road at several points, the Department of Natural Resources said on social media.

“Structure protection is in place and all efforts are being made to save homes and other structures,” the post said.

Department officials expected the Long Lake fire to intensify Sunday due to hot, windy, and dry weather conditions.

Jim Rudderham, director of Fleet and Forest Protection, told reporters that “everything in fire behaviour that you don’t want is happening today.”

The blaze, which began Aug. 13, was estimated to be approximately 32 square kilometres in size earlier Sunday, though officials said that evening that it had grown. 

Authorities moved their wildfire command post from West Dalhousie Road into the Bridgetown area as a precautionary measure.

“This is the day we’ve been planning for but hoping wouldn’t come true,” Scott Tingley, manager of Forest Protection, told reporters.

No homes had been damaged in the fire, he said.

More than 50 provincial firefighters were battling the blaze, assisted by 62 firefighters from Ontario, 54 local volunteer firefighters and 34 additional support staff from the Department of Natural Resources. Seven helicopters, four air tractors and two tankers were dousing the flames from above.

Meanwhile, emergency officials in New Brunswick asked some residents in the area of Black River Bridge, east of Miramichi, to be prepared to flee as a wildfire burned nearby.

People should be prepared to leave their homes within 24 hours of notice, officials said in a social media post.

In eastern Newfoundland, residents of Perry’s Cove were allowed to return home as crews continued to make headway battling a wildfire that began three weeks ago near Kingston, N.L.

Heavy-capacity helicopters were visible overhead Sunday along the northeastern shore of Conception Bay as they dumped buckets of water along the fire’s edge. 

The out-of-control Kingston fire measured about 100 square kilometres.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2025.