Officials have begun notifying people whose homes have been destroyed by Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest wildfire.
Premier John Hogan says a coast guard helicopter took him over part of the burned area yesterday.
He says some areas on the northwest coast of Conception Bay were completely burned black — but in others, there were houses still standing.
The fire near Kingston has been burning for almost two weeks, and it now encompasses more than 90 square kilometres.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NL-Wildfires-School)
Officials say a school has been destroyed by the massive fire burning on the northwestern coast of Conception Bay in Newfoundland.
Education Minister Bernard Davis says Cabot Academy in Western Bay has been lost to the flames.
Davis says about 60 students attended the school.
He says his department will work with the provincial teachers’ association to ensure educators to ensure students and teachers are supported.
(The Canadian Press)
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(Wildfire-Restrictions)
As climate change continues to raise the risk of extreme wildfires, a debate has arisen over whether governments or individuals bear the responsibility to prevent disasters.
In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, last week provincial governments banned hiking, fishing and using vehicles in the woods, in addition to their existing bans on open fires.
Wilfrid Laurier University professor Jennifer Baltzer says it’s reasonable to expect these sorts of government-imposed restrictions as climate change results in hotter and dryer summers.
However, Baltzer says governments have a lot of work to do to tackle climate change, which she says is the root cause of the worsening fire seasons.
(The Canadian Press)
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(PEI-Vehicle-Shooting)
R-C-M-P in P-E-I say a dive team is now part in the investigation into a crash last week that resulted in the death of a man and injured a woman who later died.
Police say the team was deployed yesterday to search bodies of waters around the Island, including lakes, ponds, streams and coastal areas.
The crash occurred last Friday on Hackmatack Road in Urbainville, near Wellington.
Police say someone shot at the car, and the 35-year-old male driver died after the it rolled and hit a utility pole, while the 50-year-old female passenger from Summerside later died in hospital.
(CBC News)
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(NS-Power-Arson)
The R-C-M-P in Nova Scotia are looking for a man who allegedly lit a fire at a power station north of Halifax earlier this week.
Police say it appears that on Wednesday afternoon, the man used a torch to ignite spools of wire at the facility on Highway 2 in Fall River.
The Mounties have released images of the suspect recorded by surveillance cameras.
(The Canadian Press)
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(Acadian-Day)
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are recognizing National Acadian Day today.
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says the Acadian culture is part of what makes the province — quote — “unique and strong.”
Nova Scotia’s minister of Acadian affairs, Colton LeBlanc, says the day is one to celebrate the strength, pride and perseverance of people whose roots run deep in the province.
Both provinces are encouraging people to take part in festivities and discover the beauty of l’Acadie.
(The Canadian Press)
