Showers bring crews closer to containing forest fire at Seven Mile Lake, in Nova Scotia

Fire broke out on Aug. 4 near Kejimkujik National Park and is largest province has seen since 2009

The Canadian Press Posted: Aug 14, 2016 12:01 PM AT Last Updated: Aug 14, 2016 1:10 PM AT

 

Rain has helped contain 395-hectare fire in western Nova Scotia that crews have been battling for more than a week.

The Department of Natural Resources says the fire at Seven Mile Lake in Annapolis County is 70 per cent contained as of Sunday morning, up from 50 per cent on Saturday evening.

Officials say progress is expected to continue Sunday with a chance of showers later in the day.

The Seven Mile Lake wildfire broke out on Aug. 4 near one of Nova Scotia's natural gems, Kejimkujik National Park.

"We're hoping today, with the rain helping us, we will get that fire contained, but we'll wait and see," said Jim Rudderham, the province's operations manager for forest protection.

"It's going to go on for a while yet."

Need at least week's worth of rain

Rudderham said the blaze is the largest the province has seen since flames tore through a forested area near the Spryfield community of Halifax in 2009, destroying 10 buildings.

The fire at Seven Mile Lake is one of 17 wildfires that have broken out across the province since last week, most of which have been extinguished or brought under control.

Rudderham says even with recent rainfall, crews will continue working for some time.

"If it rained everyday for a whole week, we might not be," he said.

About 200 people from at least five provinces have contributed to the fire-fighting effort, as well as a fleet of water bombers from Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick.