The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following updates and impacts to municipal services as a result of the ongoing fires. 

Evacuation area update

The evacuation order has been lifted for the following areas:

• As of 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 4 – the Glen Arbour subdivision (Phase 1A)
• As of 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 4 – the area east of Stillwater Lake and south of Hammonds Plains Road (Phase 1B)  

These areas are only open to homeowners and business owners.

Residents for all areas must show police their identification with proof of address (e.g. driver’s licence). Hammonds Plains Road remains closed and the Stillwater Lake area must be accessed from the Tantallon side. The Glen Arbour subdivision must be accessed from Bedford. As safety remains a concern in the surrounding areas, residents of the above areas must be prepared to evacuate within 30 minutes of being notified.

As soon as it’s safe to do so, Nova Scotia Power will reconnect power to these communities. The power will be restored later this evening.

This is Phase 1 of the municipality’s three-phase approach to lifting evacuation orders in all areas. It is expected that Phase 2 will be opened in the next few days and that Phase 3 will open in the days following. The area of significant impact, while located within Phase 3, will not be open for approximately 10 to 14 days. More information on the opening of these remaining phases will be announced once it is safe to lift the evacuation orders in those areas. 

The latest information is available on halifax.ca/fire. View the most recent map of the fire evacuation areas and state of local emergency zone that outlines the area of significant impact.

Halifax Water

Halifax Water has set up water stations at the following addresses that will be available for use as of noon on Monday, June 5:   

• 134 Micmac Drive – Micmac Drive Park
• 290 White Hills Run – Madeline Symonds Middle School
• 297 Pockwock Road – White Hills Care Centre
• 711 Pockwock Road – Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre

After a wildfire, well water may be contaminated with bacteria and chemicals that can make you sick. Contamination can come from the fire itself, from products used to fight the fire, and from chemicals that seep into the water supply if items such as oil tanks are damaged.  For information on well safety, please see provincial guidelines.

Recovery phase

Key components of the recovery phase include: 

Prior to the return of residents to the evacuation area

• Soil sampling and air quality assessment will be completed by the municipality, in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change, to confirm safe levels
• Water supplies will be made available in all neighbourhoods
• To allow for prompt disposal of spoiled food, the municipality is providing drop-off bins for residents that experienced power loss during the mandatory evacuation. Packaged food is permitted. Glass containers and leaf/yard waste is not permitted. More information can be found on our webpage.  

Following the return of residents to the evacuation area

• Ongoing monitoring of air quality
• Ongoing provision of water supplies
• Security will be provided in neighborhoods located in the area of significant impact (specifically to monitor those properties that are not inhabitable) and this service will continue until determined to be no longer necessary
• All contractors secured by the municipality to provide recovery phase services will be verified and security passes will be provided

More information will be provided as soon as details are confirmed, and ongoing status updates will be available on halifax.ca/fire.

Solid Waste

To allow for prompt disposal of spoiled food, the municipality is providing drop-off bins for residents in the Phase 1 areas that experienced power loss during the mandatory evacuation. Packaged food is permitted. Garbage and leaf/yard waste are not permitted.  Glass jars (with contents) must be kept separate and placed in the totes that are on-site. These food waste bins will be in place as soon as possible today, Sunday, June 4, and remain in place until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6.

Drop-off bin locations/hours (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily): 

• 20 Greenhill Road – Tennis courts
• 19 Glen Arbour Way – Eisenhower Park
• 446 Sandwick Drive – Sandwick Park
• 1452 White Hills Run – White Hills Park
• 120 Cedarcrest Drive – Salty Dips Park
• 134 Micmac Drive – Micmac Park

Residents who need to dispose of their refrigerators and freezers are asked to:

• Remove the contents;
• Contact 311 to submit a request to remove the CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons); and,
• Place the item(s) curbside on the next regular garbage collection day once the CFCs have been safely removed.

Please visit halifax.ca/fire or follow @hfxgov on Twitter for all updates.