Wildfire in Nova Scotia expands; moderate temperatures aid firefighters in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Wildfires Ravage Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia
In a series of events, wildfires have been causing havoc in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. Here's a roundup of the current situation.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Paddy's Pond wildfire is holding steady at just over three square kilometers. Despite its size, the fire has already caused significant damage, destroying about 100 houses and forcing 3,000 people out of their homes. The wildfire, burning along the northwestern shore of Conception Bay, remains the largest one in the province, measuring roughly 95 square kilometers—approximately the size of Paris, France.
Cooler temperatures and low winds have aided firefighters in Newfoundland and Labrador, resulting in little growth in wildfires. As of now, there are seven active wildfires in the province, with over 196 square kilometers of ground scorched.
On the other hand, the Long Lake wildfire in Nova Scotia has grown rapidly and remains out of control. As of August 24-25, the fire's size is estimated at approximately 32 square kilometers. The fire has crossed multiple roads, including Thorne Road, West Dalhousie Road, and reached as far as Paradise Lake, threatening communities along Highway 10 in Annapolis County.
Evacuation orders have been repeatedly expanded, affecting over 100 homes and more than 200 people. The latest expanded evacuation areas include parts of Morse Road, Thorne Road, West Dalhousie, and Highway 10 between Crisp Road and West Dalhousie Road. Several homes have been damaged or lost in West Dalhousie, although authorities have not yet released exact numbers pending notifications to residents.
Efforts to contain the wildfire include protective measures around structures using sprinkler systems, clearing fire breaks, and applying water lines along the flanks of the fire. Volunteer firefighters and government crews from across Nova Scotia are actively involved, using tankers to transport water and forest crews operating heavy machinery to establish new fire breaks after the fire jumped previous ones.
Despite these efforts, officials describe the fire behavior as extreme and challenging due to weather conditions, and they expect the fire to continue intensifying unless weather improves. In response, Environment Canada has forecast up to 15 millimeters of rain for Sunday night with showers ending Monday morning for Halifax and the surrounding areas.
The Canadian Armed Forces and other partners are working with the Public Safety's Government Operations Centre to deploy all necessary federal resources to help Nova Scotia fight wildfires. Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister of emergency management, has approved a request for help from Nova Scotia to provide resources to tackle wildfires.
Meanwhile, the Martin Lake wildfire in Newfoundland and Labrador is being tackled with four water bombers and bucketing helicopters.
Elsewhere, authorities are keeping a watch on Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, which could bring rip currents all along the coast.
An evacuation advisory has been lifted for the residents of Lavillette in northern New Brunswick, where there are 39 active wildfires across the province with eight deemed out of control. The Oldfield Road wildfire near Miramichi remains the largest one, measuring roughly 14 square kilometers.
In a positive note, officials have taken measures such as sprinklers, hoses, and barriers to keep the community safe.
[1] CBC News. (2025, August 24). Long Lake wildfire in Annapolis County 'extremely challenging,' officials say. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/long-lake-wildfire-annapolis-county-1.6144481
[2] Global News. (2025, August 25). Long Lake wildfire in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, grows to 32 square kilometres. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/9076414/long-lake-wildfire-annapolis-county-nova-scotia/
[3] CBC News. (2025, August 24). West Dalhousie homes evacuated as Long Lake wildfire grows. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/west-dalhousie-homes-evacuated-long-lake-wildfire-1.6144466
[4] The Chronicle Herald. (2025, August 24). Long Lake wildfire grows to 32 sq km; more evacuations ordered in Annapolis County. Retrieved from https://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1998259-long-lake-wildfire-grows-to-32-sq-km-more-evacuations-ordered-in-annapolis-county
[5] CBC News. (2025, August 24). Long Lake wildfire: What we know so far. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/long-lake-wildfire-what-we-know-so-far-1.6144472
[1] The ongoing wildfires in Nova Scotia pose threats to both public health-and-wellness and environmental-science, as the Long Lake wildfire continues to grow uncontrolled, covering approximately 32 square kilometers.
[2] Climate change's impact on weather patterns may contribute to the increased frequency and severity of wildfires, as observed in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.
[3] In the context of wildfire management, collaboration between government agencies, volunteer firefighters, and the military, such as the Canadian Armed Forces, contributes to the advancement of science, specifically in the field of disaster response and fitness-and-exercise.
