(Friday, August 3, 2001- 3:00 p.m.)...Firefighters have renewed their efforts since early this morning to contain a wildland fire which broke out in brush woods near the Pockwock Road in Upper Hammonds Plains at around 7:00 p.m. last evening. and burned uncontained through the night.
At dawn, the arrival of three Department of Natural Resources helicopters, provided the resources to fully assess the coverage area of the fire and it was determined early on that the fire had not made any advances throughout the night .The fire currently covers an area approximately 25 metres wide.
While fire crews worked until late last night, renewed efforts to contain the fire began in the morning and have continued all day with 75 firefighters from the Department of Natural Resources and Halifax Regional Municipality. Mayor Peter Kelly and the Regional Councillor for the District visited workers at the Operations Centre site both last night and today to offer their support.
At no time since the outbreak of the fire on Thursday evening, have residents in the area been threatened with the possibility of evacuation. The site which has been at most risk potentially has been the Pockwock Water Treatment Facility, a major water supply source for the region. The facility is located approximately 1200 metres away from the site where the fire is burning. Halifax Water Commission staff worked throughout the night to ensure reservoirs were filled and water service continued to be provided to the citizens of HRM. The potential threat to the facility has been diminished as the fire has not advanced . As of approximately 3:00 p.m. fire crews had reached the head of the fire and were to lay hose around the perimeter of the site to contain it. If conditions remain the same , it is anticipated that fire crews will have the fire contained sometime this evening.
HRM residents may continue to call the HRM Customer Service Lines until 10 p.m. this evening for updates on the status of the fire.
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Contact:
Lori Patterson
Acting Corporate Communications Officer
(902)489-6833
