A wildfire in the eastern Canadian city of Halifax has prompted mandatory evacuation orders for thousands of homes, and residents will not be allowed to return until they are will not have been informed by municipal governments, officials said.
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said the evictions affected about 18,000 people.
The orders issued Sunday cover the areas of Hammonds Plains, Upper Tantallon and Pockwock. These suburban communities are home to many city workers and are located approximately 15 miles from Halifax. Residents of neighboring neighborhoods, surrounded by forest, were restless during the night.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a tweet Monday that the fire situation in the province of Nova Scotia, where Halifax is located, is “incredibly serious” and that his government stands ready to provide any assistance if necessary.
Wildfires also led to the evacuation of about 400 homes in New Brunswick province over the weekend, officials said. Saint Andrews, New Brunswick Mayor Brad Henderson said today that while progress has been made, the fire is still not under control.
Halifax Region Deputy Fire and Emergency Chief Dave Meldrum told reporters Monday morning that the Tantallon and Hammonds Plains areas remained affected by the flames. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and no deaths or injuries have been reported.
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