(Update) Municipal fires and impacts update – June 13, 3:45 p.m.

**** HRM Media Release

UPDATE: Updated Hummingbird Lane and surrounding area map included

Municipal fires and impacts update – June 13, 3:45 p.m.

The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following evacuation area update.

The recovery phase continues, and regular updates will continue to be provided by the municipality summarizing key developments.

Evacuation orders

The municipality has lifted the evacuation order for the following streets:

Hummingbird Lane – partial
Haverstock Drive – partial
Kata Court

Municipal officials have contacted all residents who can now return to their properties. For questions about specific civic addresses, residents can reference the detailed maps on halifax.ca/fire or email hrm_emo@halifax.ca. To accelerate the re-entry process, no identification is required for homeowners to return to their communities where evacuation orders have been lifted. Also, those who do not live in these communities are asked to not travel within them. This will make it easier for local residents to access their homes. Nova Scotia Power continues to reconnect power to affected streets and houses. As the evacuation area gets smaller, it becomes more time consuming to isolate. Numerous homes with partial damage will require a follow-up inspection before it is safe to restore. The remaining areas of significant impact or areas that have not yet reopened continue to have checkpoints, as well as a presence from a combination of municipal staff and security as roving patrols. Residents are reminded that the state of local emergency issued in respect of the wildfires in the Halifax Regional Municipality was lifted on Friday, June 9 at 4:30 p.m. The municipality will continue to lift evacuation orders for a combination of individual properties and streets when it is safe to do so. As such, the provincial emergency alert system will no longer be used. Future openings will be communicated via a public service announcement, social media posts, updates to halifax.ca/fire as well as outreach from municipal staff to individuals whose properties are located in the areas where the evacuation orders are being lifted. Resources for residents returning to properties Residents returning to properties after an evacuation order are encouraged to review provincial information on health and safety considerations, including guidance on the use of personal protective equipment.

The municipality is working with Team Rubicon, a veteran-led charity organization, to provide detailed sifting services for those residents with destroyed or damaged properties. At the request of the residents, Team Rubicon will perform a search for items that may be recoverable. Team Rubicon is working directly with homeowners.

Well-water safety

Residents can pick up and drop off well-water testing kits at the Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre (711 Pockwock Road, Hammonds Plains) on the below dates and times.

Residents are reminded that the sample can only be taken after five days of water being run through taps in the home. Water does not need to be running constantly, it can be turned on and off over the course of five days before taking the sample.

Tuesday, June 13: 6 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 14: 6 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 15: 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday, June 16: 6 to 8 p.m. (this will be the final day to pick up water testing kits)

The samples must be collected no more than one hour before they are dropped off.

Solid Waste

Spoiled food collection

The following food drop-off bins will be available at the below locations/ times:

Nicole Court | Tuesday, June 13 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Once Hummingbird Lane fully opens to residents, this bin will be moved from Nicole Court to the Cul-de-sac at the end of Hummingbird Lane and will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday June 14, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 15.
Cul-de-sac at the end of Windbreak Run | Tuesday, June 13 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Wednesday, June 14 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

We thank residents for following the guidelines:

Glass jars (with contents) must be kept separate and placed in the totes that are on-site
No garbage
No leaf/yard waste
Packaged food is permitted

Please be prepared to place bags of spoiled food into the bin provided.

Curbside organics and recycling collection

Curbside collection of green carts and recycling was cancelled Tuesday, May 30 in the Voyageur Way/St George Boulevard areas. Recovery will occur on the regularly scheduled collection day, Tuesday June 13. Cancellation for this area was limited to the streets that were evacuated.

Curbside collection of green carts and recycling was cancelled Wednesday, May 31 in Hammonds Plains, Upper Hammonds Plains, Glen Arbour, White Hills, and Lucasville, including Kingswood North. Recovery will occur on the regularly scheduled collection day, Wednesday, June 14.

Spoiled food needs to be unpackaged to be placed in the green cart. Call 311 if your green bin is damaged.

Smoke kit distribution

The municipality will be delivering smoke kits to impacted residents on Tuesday, June 13. Arrangements will be made with residents who have yet to return to their property so that a smoke kit will be delivered to them. Please visit halifax.ca/fire or follow @hfxgov on Twitter for all updates.