Hundreds of Annapolis County residents were able to return home, Wednesday, after being forced from their homes last month due to the Long Lake wildfire.
The re-entry process is a phased approach:
- 9 a.m.: all streets around Trout Lake
- 11 a.m.: Zwicker and East lakes, in New Albany
- 1 p.m.: Highway 10, West Dalhousie Road to Che-Boag-A-Nish Road (Connell Lake)
- 4 p.m.: Highway 10 will reopen to the general public
There are check points on Crisp Road and West Dalhousie Road.
Areas still under evacuation are from the intersection of Che-Boag-A-Nish Road & West Dalhousie Road to the intersection of Meadow Road & West Dalhousie Road.
This includes all of Heartland Road, Thorne Road and Medicraft Lane –Morse Road remains closed from Neaves Road to West Dalhousie Road.
Out of control
In an update Wednesday afternoon, the Department of Natural Resources says the fire remains out of control at 8,468 hectares with no new reports of damage.
Crews and machinery are repositioning to the fire’s southern end to build more dozer guards and protections; aircraft are dropping large amounts of water in this area.
There are 10 helicopters, four planes and a bird dog involved with four DNR firefighters, 61 from Ontario, 40 from Quebec, 65 local along with about 50 pieces of heavy machinery.
Evacuation shelter
The evacuation shelter at NSCC Middleton will transition to stand-by status, Thursday at 8 a.m., but will be reinstated if needed.
Nova Scotia Emergency Management says The Bridgetown Fire Hall Comfort Centre remains open, and the Salvation Army is still collecting and distributing donations.
The next update is around midday, Thursday.
