A wildfire is growing exponentially in southwestern NS.

The province reports that the fire covers more than 2296 hectares.

Monday morning, the forest fire would have moved to the northeast of the municipality of Barrington and would have crossed the municipality of Shelburne.

A mandatory evacuation order is now in place for all communities along the Shore Road between Port Clyde and Birchtown, in addition to the evacuations already in place for Barrington Lake and Clyde River.

Scott Tingley, director of forest protection at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy, said tankers from out of province are helping to fight the fires.

He said the department has reached out to partners across Canada and even the United States to come to the aid, as crews battle the blaze near Lake Barrington and also an out-of-control blaze outside of Halifax which forced the evacuation of thousands of homes.

” We will definitely need more support. »

The ministry reported last night that the fire covered approximately 1354 hectares.

On Saturday evening, the fire was considered under control, but hot, dry and windy conditions caused the situation to escalate.

Air tankers dispatched from New Brunswick, two helicopters and 35 firefighters are at the scene of the forest fire. A team of volunteer firefighters also takes turns to help fight the fire.

Forest Protection Officer Kara McCurdy says Lake Barrington is located in a remote area, usually only accessible for outdoor activities. She says that as the fire moves east, it threatens the community of Clyde River.

The Ministry of Natural Resources reports that there are three cabins in the remote area where the fire is burning and one of them has been destroyed. The ministry does not know the condition of the other two.

Ash fall, thick smoke

Wendy Atwoodclerk in a convenience store in Clyde Rivertestifies that everyone is nervous.

Saturday night when it was dark it was really scary because you could see the firelightshe says. Just talking about it now gives me goosebumps because it’s unreal.

She said the community is blanketed in smoke and she can smell it inside the store. She also sees ash falls at times.

You hear about wildfires in British Columbia, but we never experience things like that here, so it’s really scaryshe says.

She is concerned about the hot, windy and dry conditions expected over the next few days.

To be able to contain this fire and bring it under control, we will need both the help of resources and Mother Nature.she says.

Closed roads and fire ban

Further evacuations are expected as the fire progresses and Highway 103 between exits 27 and 29 is closed.

1,200 Nova Scotia Power customers have been without power in the area since Sunday evening and authorities may request that power be cut to other locations to allow crews battling the blaze to work safely.

As of 8 p.m. Sunday, it is prohibited to start a fire for any reason in the woods, or within 1,000 meters of a wooded area, in the counties of Annapolis, Digby, Kingsof Lunenburgof Queensof Shelburne and of yarmouthsays the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The prohibition also applies to fires in the courtyards of residences and fires in campsites private.

Fires are also prohibited in all provincial parks in Nova Scotia.

With information from CBC and The Canadian Press