04/14/2026
NOVA SCOTIA WILDFIRE SEASON UPDATE —
BY THE NUMBERS
March 21 – April 12, 2026
We’ve been keeping an eye on wildfire‑related activity across Nova Scotia using reports that we’ve been able to post on the page and there’s no question about it anymore; fire season has arrived. Here’s what the first 23 days have looked like.
A total of 159 qualifying incidents were reported between March 21 and April 12. These numbers include grass fires, brush fires, ditch fires, woods fires, smoke sightings, illegal burns, and outdoor fires listed as “unknown.” They do not include other day-to-day calls crews respond to.
Breakdown of the 159 incidents — incidents initially reported as:
• Grass Fires — 45 (28%)
• Brush Fires — 37 (23%)
• Illegal Burns — 31 (20%)
• Unknown Outdoor Fires — 23 (14%)
• Smoke Sightings — 15 (10%)
• Woods Fires — 8 (5%)
How the season has unfolded so far:
March 21–31 (Early Season):
Activity started at a steady pace with roughly 3–4 incidents per day, most of them tied to illegal burns.
April 1–6 (The Lull):
Things slowed down to about 2 incidents per day. April 5 stands out as the only day in this entire period with zero qualifying incidents.
April 7–12 (The Surge):
This is when things escalated. The province jumped to nearly 18 incidents per day, including two major spike days:
• April 9: A staggering 42 incidents in a single day. High winds pushed fires across fields and into tree lines, with several coming dangerously close to homes. Many required multi-department response.
• April 12: Another heavy day with 23 incidents, again with multiple fires threatening structures across the province.
Key trends:
• Wind is the biggest driver. Most fires described as spreading quickly, moving toward structures, or becoming uncontrollable happened on high‑wind days.
• Structures have been at risk. Several fires burned within 50–100 feet of homes, sheds, garages, and greenhouses. A few reached/impacted structures.
• Controlled burns are escaping. Many incidents began as intentional burns that got away when conditions shifted, often a requiring multi‑department response.
• Illegal burns continue to be a major issue. With 31 incidents, one in every five calls.
Please keep in mind that these stats only reflect the departments we’re currently able to post about. There are still several areas where we can’t share incident information because there’s no local admin coverage — including Yarmouth, Guysborough County, and the Cape Breton Highlands.
If you’re in one of those regions and would like to help us fill the gaps, send us a message.
What we’re asking from you,
• Check daily burning restrictions before lighting anything
• Never leave a fire unattended
• Keep water and tools close by
• If conditions change, put the fire out immediately
• And if you’re unsure whether it’s safe, don’t light it
Our volunteer firefighters are already stretched thin. Every preventable call pulls resources away from true emergencies. Let’s do what we can to reduce the load.
We’ll continue tracking and sharing updates as the season progresses.
Stay safe — keep Nova Scotia safe
April 13
