Officials knew of wildfire risk in Tantallon for years but did nothing, say residents

Nick Horne looks across the river at the old bridge foundations on a trail in Westwood Hills, where he's hoped for years to see an emergency exit for his Upper Tantallon neighbourhood.

But the bridge has yet to be built — and it's on Nova Scotia Power land.

"I think it's a bit of a political football with regards to funding and political will," Horne said Thursday.

The province and Halifax Regional Municipality have known for years the area was an extreme fire risk, thanks in part to earlier reports that offered recommendations no one has enacted.

Then came the Tantallon wildfire that began on May 28 in the neighbourhood located off Hammonds Plains Road — roughly 25 kilometres outside Halifax. Officials have said more than 200 structures were destroyed during the wildfire, including approximately 150 homes.

Horne had been heading out of the subdivision with his kids when they saw flames in the surrounding trees. He stopped to bang on neighbours' doors, warning them to leave before getting back in his car.

But instead of driving to safety via the emergency exit Horne and others had wanted installed off the end of Wright Lake Run at the north end of the subdivision, he sat in a long line of cars waiting to pass through the only exit at the southern end.

"If the wind had changed, there was no way out for us," Horne said. "We all would have perished.

"It was the most emotional experience I think I've ever had."

Horne said locals had requested a provincial fire assessment through the FireSmart program, knowing that Westwood would be in major trouble during an emergency.

So far, more than 40 N.S. communities have taken part in the program where staff map risks and educate residents and first responders on wildfire safety.

In 2016, wildfire prevention officer Kara McCurdy determined the northern end of Westwood Hills was at "extreme" risk, with southern parts at high and moderate risk.

Her protection plan made a number of recommendations, including creating a gated emergency road through to Wright Lake Run, installing dry fire hydrants since there are none, and creating a community buffer of thinned trees around the subdivision. Dry hydrants allow for a water supply when there is no municipal system available.

Armed with that information, Horne said he worked for years with former area councillor Matt Whitman, city staff, MLA Ben Jessome and Nova Scotia Power to put in the bridge and clear the exit through to a secondary road on provincial Crown land.