A wildfire near Mooseland Road on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore has expanded to 1,700 hectares, up from an earlier estimate of 300 hectares.Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for a 22-kilometre stretch of Mooseland Road due to dry conditions.

Firefighters are working to contain the blaze, with support from local volunteer departments, Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, and the Department of Natural Resources.Helicopters and water bombers from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador are deployed to combat the fire.The fire began late Wednesday night and grew rapidly under dry, hot conditions, despite 4.6 millimetres of rain overnight.Residents like Jacob Prest, who lives in the evacuation zone, describe the fire’s rapid escalation, with smoke intensifying around supper time.Evacuation orders were issued after the fire crossed Mooseland Road, prompting Nova Scotia Power to cut electricity to active lines.While some residents have chosen to stay, others have prepared emergency kits.The situation remains critical as crews monitor weather forecasts for potential rain on Sunday.Authorities urge rural Nova Scotians to stay prepared for sudden evacuations.The incident highlights the challenges of managing wildfires in a region with fragile ecosystems and vulnerable communities.