Fire Crews Battle Remaining Hot Spots in Massive Brush Fire Near Halifax

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

HALIFAX – Air and ground crews were monitoring the remaining hot spots of a massive brush fire Monday, that forced the evacuation of five thousand residents of a community near Halifax.

Most of the evacuees from the Porters Lake area were allowed to return home Sunday after officials determined their homes were no longer in danger.

People were ordered to leave their homes after a large, wind-whipped fire broke out Friday.

Jennifer Gavin, a spokeswoman with the province’s Department of Natural Resources, said up to 10 aircraft including water bombers and helicopters would concentrate on areas that could still prove dangerous should the winds whip up.

Gavin said officials were “cautious, but optimistic” the fire would be brought under control at some point on Monday.

“There’s still some work to be done,” said Gavin.

“We’re moving in the right direction and we’ve made a lot of progress…due to the firefighters and volunteers, but also the water bombers overhead made a great impact.”

A police spokesman said Highway 107 was still closed between Exit 18 and 19 so the road could be used as a helicopter landing strip.

RCMP Cpl.

Joe Taplin also warned the general public to stay out of the areas hardest hit by the fire, including the Candy Mountain Road area of Mineville.

He said people would be turned away by police if they don’t have the proper identification.

“There is still a lot of fire apparatus moving in and around this area…so we can’t have anybody in that area who does not belong there,” said Taplin.

Police arrested four people over the weekend for sneaking past police barricades.

Meanwhile, residents of about 50 of the 2,000 homes evacuated over the weekend were still waiting on word on when they could return home.