BEECH HILL – An unwelcome sign of summer’s arrival in Nova Scotia in recent years is already underway. Not that emergency officials needed any reminder, as a wildfire in Queen’s County earlier this month served as a wake-up call for people, including in Antigonish County, that the season has begun.
As part of preparations for preventing and dealing with potential blazes, Blaise MacDonald – coordinator of the Antigonish Emergency Management Office (EMO) – said several stakeholders, including representatives of EMO, fire services, the Canadian Red Cross, the Department of Natural Resources, EHS and Strait Area Ground Search and Rescue, along with municipal officials from the Town and County of Antigonish and Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, took part in a “wildfire readiness review” on May 19.
MacDonald noted that one of the key components discussed during the session was “evacuation planning,” including the “roles and responsibilities” of players in what would have to be a team effort.
He agreed that communities across the province, if they have to deal with a wildfire, will benefit from the province’s decision to contract five additional aircraft for its arsenal.
“Hopefully, we don’t have any events,” MacDonald said of potential incidents that would require the water bombers.
Nevertheless, he added, weather conditions similar to last summer are expected, which would certainly increase the potential for wildfires.
“We have to be prepared – make sure that we’re ready to go,” MacDonald said.
In an update provided Monday morning, he said local fire services and their partners had already dealt with six woods fires caused by various incidents.
“We were able to get them under control,” he said, crediting the efforts of those who fought the blazes.
Over the weekend, several fire departments – along with a Department of Natural Resources helicopter – responded to a brush fire near Dunmore in Antigonish County. Another occurred on Fairmont Rd. near Brophy Rd.
As for what residents can do, MacDonald recommended checking the BurnSafe NS map, which is updated daily at 2 p.m., before carrying out any sort of burning.
“Always be aware of conditions,” MacDonald advised, noting how quickly they can change.
An example of that changeability, he explained, came earlier this month when fire services responded to a call in the Glen Rd. area of the county. Even though there had been significant rainfall, and the person was using a burning barrel, sparks caught the grass and the fire was heading toward the woods.
“Again, you always need to be aware of your surroundings,” MacDonald said, describing the importance of practising “safe behaviours.”
As part of the broader message around preparedness – and considering the increase in severe weather events across the province – he added, “It is more important than ever for everyone to have an emergency plan, and to have an emergency kit ready to go in the event your community is impacted, and you need to evacuate your home on short notice.”
The Canadian Red Cross recommends each household assemble an emergency kit with essential items to meet the household’s needs for at least three days. It should include food, water, medications, important documents and necessary supplies to stay prepared for any situation.
Another weather-related challenge created last summer was water shortages due to drought, including many wells going dry across the county.
MacDonald noted there has been “nothing indicated yet” regarding the possible return, if needed, of a provincial bottled water program, which was offered to municipalities last year as a tool to help residents dealing with water shortages.
As a pre-emptive measure, in anticipation of a potential summer shortage, he recommended residents capture rainwater during wet periods.
MacDonald also suggested limiting car washing and lawn watering. He added that seemingly simple steps, such as turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, or filling a bottle and putting it in the fridge rather than letting the tap run, can pay dividends.
