A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for parts of Bedford, N.S., after emergency officials noted a new wildfire and the potential for an ammonia leak in the area.
Mayor Mike Savage says three crews are currently at the Farmers Dairy building off the Hammonds Plains Road trying to tackle the fire.
“They’re soaking the area in front of the building,” he told Mainstreet Halifax. “It’s got everybody’s full-time attention.
Savage says weather conditions on Tuesday haven’t made things easy for firefighters, as crews continue to tackle flare-ups in Tantallon, and spot-fires around the city.
“We also had a fire in downtown Halifax, which was causing concern, and folks have been able to extinguish that one,” said Savage.
It’s still unclear what caused the fire near Farmers Dairy, but Savage is urging Halgonians to heed the burn ban in the province.
“We have fires that are starting from illegal burning. My advice to people is don’t be stupid and don’t be selfish,” he said.
Crews in the Halifax Regional Municipality are already at capacity, and additional fires only further tax resources.
Halifax Fire Deputy Chief David Meldrum said the Farmers Dairy manufacturing plant has several ammonia tanks on site, which is why emergency offcials are taking a “very defensive and cautious stance.”
The wide evacuation radius is in part due to the risk of an ammonia leak, and not because of the size of the fire, which Meldrum noted is still much smaller than the fire still burning in Tantallon.
Areas affected
An emergency alert issued at 6:40 p.m. stated people on the following streets must leave:
- Olive Avenue.
- Bernard Street.
- Lewis Drive.
- Estelle Avenue.
- Farmers Dairy Lane.
- Giles Drive.
- Bluewater Road.
- Topsail Court.
- Command Court.
- Gary Martin Drive.
- Lasalle Court.
- Castlestone Drive.
- Hammonds Plains Road from the intersection of Giles Drive to the intersection of Larry Uteck Boulevard.
A comfort centre has been set up at the Lions Club at the LeBrun Recreation Centre at 36 Holland Avenue in Bedford.
The new fire was reported early Tuesday evening on Hammonds Plains Road near the Farmers Dairy building.
While it’s close to the perimeter of the original wildfire in the area, it’s considered a new fire.
Crews have redirected water bombers from Newfoundland and Labrador to that area. The area around Hammonds Plains Road from Farmers Dairy Lane to Giles Drive has been shut down and sources say evacuations are underway.
The Northwood care facility had been in the midst of returning residents to its Bedford campus on Ivany Place, located near the BMO Centre off the Hammonds Plains Road, when the fire broke out. They’ve since reversed course and are returning residents to Northwood’s Halifax campus, according to CEO Janet Simm.
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