As wildfires rage across Nova Scotia, officials are urging individuals living in wooded areas to evacuate. However, many refuse to leave, citing a strong attachment to their makeshift homes. "There's reluctance because it is home to some people … that's their comfort area," said Matthew Reid, manager of the Souls Harbour Rescue Mission's mobile outreach program.

Reid leads a team of six outreach workers who travel around Halifax in vans, providing food, clothing, and other essential resources to the homeless. Their work has become increasingly urgent as the wildfire risk escalates. The outreach team has an exemption from the provincewide ban on entering the woods, allowing them to continue their efforts. "We try to educate as best we can to let them know that right now it's not safe to be living in the woods, as the conditions are very dry, and encourage them to find shelter in other places," Reid explained.

Since June, Nova Scotia has experienced a significant lack of rainfall, leading to widespread drought conditions. This has created an environment conducive to wildfires, with fire crews currently battling multiple blazes, including one that has forced over 100 homes to evacuate. On August 5, Premier Tim Houston announced a ban on entering the woods, which carries a potential fine of $25,000 for violators. The same fine applies to those who start open fires.

Despite the ban, at least a dozen fines have been issued, but officials have not yet enforced these penalties against homeless individuals living in the forests. A spokesperson for the Department of Opportunities and Social Development stated, "The province's priority right now is safety and support. Outreach efforts have been successful in encouraging people to relocate without the need for enforcement."

As of last Friday, 63 individuals had moved from wooded encampments to shelters or non-wooded areas. However, an estimated 137 people remain in high-risk settings, primarily in or near the woods. Nadia Shivji, a lawyer with Dalhousie Legal Aid, noted that the decision to impose fines is discretionary. "The fact that we haven't seen any of these cases hopefully shows some compassion… I think that's positive," she said.

Shivji emphasized the importance of providing practical alternatives for those affected by the ban. "As of now, we haven't seen a lot of assistance from the province in addressing the homelessness problem, or a lot of meaningful assistance," she added. She argued that imposing a $25,000 fine on someone without the means to pay it would be counterproductive and detrimental to their ability to recover.

In response to the situation, the Department of Opportunities and Social Development reported a collaborative effort among various provincial departments, municipalities, and community organizations to relocate individuals. They have opened an additional 125 emergency shelter beds in the past two weeks. "Our priority is simple – keeping people safe – and we've moved quickly to make that happen," the spokesperson said.

While the province could theoretically arrest individuals for violating the ban, Shivji pointed out that anyone arrested would likely be released quickly, as the offense does not warrant detention. Elected officials have remained largely silent on the issue of homelessness in the woods during the ongoing drought. Recently, a Natural Resources official revealed that a wildfire near Susies Lake in Halifax was ignited by an open fire made by individuals, but no charges could be filed as no one was present when fire crews arrived.

When asked about the situation, Premier Houston stated that an investigation would occur after the immediate fire threat is addressed. "But for right now, the focus is just on containing the fire, fighting the fires, and just kind of reiterating to Nova Scotians that it's a risky situation and just obey the laws that are in place right now," he said.

Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore echoed this sentiment, stating that it is too early to discuss specific options for relocating individuals from the woods. "We are looking at a way of getting folks out of danger, and therefore getting us all out of danger by getting them out of the woods," he said.