(Ed note: The very latest updates are on our Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/haligonia/posts/10158707761722033)

From NS Lands & Forestry:

Provincial wildfire fighting crews are fighting a wildfire in the Porters Lake area of Halifax Regional Municipality. The fire is estimated to cover about 40 hectares, but is growing.

The fire started at about 12:30 p.m. today, May 23, on the north side of Highway 107. Shortly after fire crews arrived on scene, the fire intensified and jumped Highway 107 between Exits 18 and 19. 

Lands and Forestry crews are on the ground and three helicopters are in the air. Personnel from Halifax Fire and HRM Emergency Management Office, RCMP, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal and other supporting partners are also on the scene. 

An evacuation order of about 1,000 residents is underway by Halifax Fire, with more residents on standby. A portion of Highway 107 has been closed to traffic. The public is asked to avoid the area. 

Quick Facts:
— no homes have been lost at this time
— the cause of the fire is unknown 
— updates about the wildfire will be provided over social media @NSLandsForestry

From Halifax Fire:

Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE) crews are currently on scene at a wildfire in the Porters Lake area near Highway 107 and exit 19.

Residents are asked to avoid any travel to the area as streets are closed to all pedestrian and vehicle traffic between Highway 107, south of West Porters Lake Road, to Marjorie Drive and Capri Drive. 

More than 1,000 residents in the area are currently being evacuated. This includes residents on Candy Mountain Road who are asked to be prepared for evacuation.

The evacuation perimeter may need to be expanded, depending on the status of the fire.

At approximately 12:20 p.m., HRFE received a call regarding a fire in the woods near the 100 block of West Porters Lake Road. HRFE, with aircraft and ground support from the Department of Lands and Forestry, are currently engaged in fighting the fire.

RCMP are on scene providing traffic control.  Ground Search and Rescue Teams with RCMP members are going door-to-door to advise residents to evacuate.  Residents in the affected area are being advised to proceed to the Lake Echo Community Centre as a shelter and information centre.

An evacuation notice has been issued via hfALERT, the municipality’s mass notification.

Further updates on this situation will be issued via hfxALERT, as well as the @hfxfire and @hfxgov Twitter accounts.

Source: Releases

#notw