Nova Scotia Battles Its Largest Wildfire On Record

Firefighters in Nova Scotia are battling the largest wildfire in the Atlantic province’s history.

Officials say the fire on the southern tip of the province has burned more than 17,000 hectares, with flames reaching nearly 100m (328ft) in height.

Meanwhile, another fire that has forced the evacuation of thousands near Halifax, the largest city, continues to burnji.

The wildfire smoke has travelled south, with air quality warnings in the US.

As of Thursday morning, Nova Scotia officials said “the massive fire in Shelburne County in the south of the province is still burning.” No fatalities or injuries have been reported, but around 50 homes have been destroyed as a result of the fire.

Dave Rockwood, a spokesperson with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, told reporters on Wednesday that the fire appears to be “very fast moving.”

Mr Rockwood said firefighters have spotted flames as tall as 60 to 90m.

Around 5,000 people have been evacuated from the region, the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) division said.

They are in addition to another 16,400 people who were evacuated from a suburban area nearby Halifax due to a smaller, 836-hectare wildfire that has been burning since Saturday and has destroyed around 200 homes and structures.

BBC/Shakirat Sadiq