Nova Scotia, an Atlantic province of Canada, is currently experiencing its largest wildfire in history, with the blaze raging on the southern tip of the province1.
Firefighters are struggling to control the fire, which has consumed around 20,000 hectares and produced flames reaching nearly 100m in height1. The fire has been described as “very fast moving” by Dave Rockwood, a spokesperson with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources1. According to Lucas Brehaut, a wildfire researcher with the Canadian Forest Service, the fire is significantly larger than the average seen during an entire fire season in Nova Scotia1.
In addition to the main fire, a smaller fire near Halifax has resulted in the evacuation of thousands and continues to burn1. This secondary fire has already destroyed around 200 homes and structures, and despite being more than 50% contained, officials fear it may spread due to hot weather forecasts1.
The impacts of these fires have been far-reaching. More than 6,000 people have been evacuated from the region affected by the main fire, with an additional 16,400 people evacuated due to the smaller fire near Halifax1. Smoke from the fires has traveled as far as the US, prompting air quality warnings in Rhode Island and Massachusetts1.
As of Thursday morning, no fatalities or injuries had been reported, but approximately 50 homes had been destroyed by the main fire1. To deter potential fire starters, Nova Scotia officials have drastically increased the fine for breaking the provincewide burn ban from C$237.50 to C$25,0001.
The Canadian federal government is sending additional resources, including military personnel and more firefighters, to aid in combating the wildfires1. This includes over 300 firefighters from the US and South Africa, who will join firefighters from Australia and New Zealand already on the ground1.
Nova Scotia is experiencing an unusually active wildfire season this year, part of a broader trend in Canada where the fire season has started earlier than usual. The number of wildfires across the country aligns with the 10-year average, but the total amount of land burned – around 2.7m hectares in total – is unprecedented1.
Despite ongoing efforts, it remains unclear how the two fires started. While wildfires can be sparked by human activity, natural factors like lightning strikes also play a significant role. With climate change causing prolonged periods of extreme heat, more moisture is being drawn from the ground and vegetation, resulting in conditions ripe for wildfires1.
The weather forecast for the region indicates hot weather conditions with the temperature possibly climbing above 30C (86F) in the coming days. This could potentially exacerbate the situation, and officials are closely monitoring weather patterns to adjust their firefighting strategies accordingly1.
While I was unable to find specific local weather alerts for Nova Scotia, the information I found indicated that the region is currently under hot weather conditions, which are expected to persist and may potentially contribute to the spread of the wildfires. I recommend regularly checking the official weather forecast for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Please stay safe and follow all advisories from local authorities.
Note: This article was written based on information available as of June 2, 2023.
