Long Lake Fire Highlights Atlantic Canada’s Growing Wildfire Crisis
This summer, Atlantic Canada has been facing what many fire officials are calling an unprecedented wildfire season. Fires have spread rapidly across several provinces, including the one near Long Lake in Nova Scotia, leaving communities shaken, homes damaged, and residents displaced. While the destruction itself has been difficult enough, it has also pulled back the curtain on an even bigger problem: firefighters on the ground say they are not being equipped with the training, policies, or resources they need to deal with this new reality.
The Halifax firefighters’ union has been outspoken about these concerns. Joe Triff, president of the Atlantic Provinces Professional Firefighters, explained that warnings had been given long before this summer. According to him, no new deployment policies were put in place, no updated protocols were introduced, and hands-on training was not rolled out. In his words, firefighters are still struggling with protective equipment issues, and the lessons from major blazes in recent years, like the 2023 Tantallon fire, have not been acted on. Instead of improving, he believes the system has fallen further behind.
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This season has put those gaps into sharp focus. Fires near Suzy Lake and now Long Lake have demonstrated just how quickly things can spiral when flames creep close to homes and forests at the same time. These so-called “urban interface” fires, where wooded areas meet dense neighborhoods, require large numbers of firefighters to be mobilized right away. Yet, according to Triff, off-duty crews are often not being called in fast enough, and the specialized training needed to fight such fires has still not taken root in places like Halifax.
Other cities, however, have been pushing ahead. Fredericton’s fire chief, Dwayne Killingbeck, said the training programs in New Brunswick have already made a big difference, allowing crews to step up their readiness year over year. He described how experienced members are now leading the way in teaching others, with the goal of eventually training all staff to handle interface fires more confidently. That kind of preparation, he argued, is essential when wildfires are becoming more frequent and more intense.
Meanwhile, in Saint John, officials are stressing the importance of prevention. Fire Chief Rob Nichol explained that educating the public is one of the most powerful tools available, reminding people that individual choices—like respecting fire bans and managing property responsibly—play a major role in reducing risks.
The Long Lake fire, along with other blazes across Atlantic Canada this season, has already left behind damaged homes and forced families into evacuation. But beyond the visible destruction, these fires have underscored a troubling reality: wildfires are no longer rare or distant threats in this part of the country. They are happening more often, burning hotter, and reaching closer to where people live. And unless firefighting systems adapt quickly—with better training, stronger policies, and stronger community awareness—the region may continue to be caught off guard when the next fire sparks.
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