Municipal authorities in Kings County are urging individuals to refrain from entering mandatory evacuation areas due to the uncontrollable Lake George wildfire. Dave Corkum, the mayor of the Municipality of the County of Kings, emphasized the risks posed by people driving into evacuation zones near the fire on ATVs, not only jeopardizing their safety but also endangering first responders.
According to the latest update from the Department of Natural Resources, the fire continues to burn deeply and has expanded slightly to cover 288 hectares without causing any structural damage. The firefighting efforts involve a total of 35 Department of Natural Resources staff, 23 local firefighters, 39 from B.C., two planes from Newfoundland and Labrador, four from the Northwest Territories, six helicopters, and 18 heavy machinery units.
With temperatures anticipated to rise into the high 20s in Kings County, Mayor Corkum expressed concerns about the challenging weather conditions hindering the firefighting operations, citing unusually dry conditions and potential wind escalation.
Over 350 residences and cottages around Lake George and the western side of Aylesford Lake have been evacuated, with 205 households registering at the Red Cross evacuation center at the Louis Millett center in New Minas. Despite the evacuation, no residents in the affected zones have been permitted to return to their homes at this time.
In a separate update, it was reported that the Baxters Harbour wildfire, a smaller fire that erupted in Kings County over the weekend, has been successfully contained. Mayor Corkum commended the swift response that led to the fire’s prompt control.
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