Some residents allowed to return home after forest fire evacuations in Cole Harbour (update)
Posted Jun 10, 2018 09:58:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
With files from Meghan Groff
Between 10 and 15 homes in Cole Harbour remain under a voluntary evacuation order as crews battle a 20-acre forest fire in the Salt Marsh Trail-area.
Deputy Fire Chief Roy Hollett said crews were called to the scene in the Bissett Lake Road area around 3 p.m. Sunday and set up a command post to fight the blaze.
With the fire spreading in the direction of Astral Drive, Hollett said the decision was made to issue a voluntary evacuation order to homes in the area as a precaution.
Residents living in the bottom portion of Astral Drive, up to Lakeridge Crescent, have been asked to evacuate and as of 9 p.m. Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency said the fire risk was too high for them to return home.
Beaver Crescent residents were also asked to voluntarily evacuate earlier in the day, however Halifax Fire said they were being allowed to return to their homes Sunday night.
“The Beaver Cres. residents are aware they may need to be evacuated again at a moment's notice,” they said in the tweet.
Hollett said about 85 per cent of the homes had complied with the voluntary order.
“We'll stick to the road network and focus on protecting houses where we can that come under any risk,” he said, adding crews will continue a full-fledge assault at sunrise.
He said it's too soon to discuss a cause or to say whether more homes could be asked to evacuate because of the fire.
“We're working with the Department of Natural Resources to get a fire index on where this fire will still go,” Hollett said.
The DNR is also aiding local fire crews with a helicopter and 50 additional personnel.
Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement for the Halifax area Sunday night.
They said residents living near the fire and those down wind may experience smoke and elevated pollution levels.
“Individuals may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath,” they said. “Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk.”
Burning restrictions remain in effect in the Halifax-area and many other areas across the province, with burning only permitted between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.
