Was a Halifax-area wildfire caused by homeless camp?
As Nova Scotians face $28,000 fines for walking in the woods, officials refuse to answer whether last week's forest fire outside Halifax was caused by a homeless camp
As Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston bans residents from walking into the forest under threat of $28,000 fines, questions are being raised about unequal application of the law as homeless encampments in the woods have been allowed to remain and whether such a camp is to blame for a recent wildfire.
Nova Scotia Government officials have declined to offer details on last week’s Susies Lake fire outside of Halifax. While confirming that the fire was human caused, provincial Department of Natural Resources official Scott Tingley repeatedly refused to answer whether there was a homeless camp at the site of the fire, with Premier Houston eventually interjecting to reiterate his ban on entering the woods.
WATCH/READ THE QUESTIONING BELOW
TRANSCRIPTION - AUG 13, 2025
REPORTER: You're not able to say the cause of the Susies Lake fire under investigation. Are there any early indications that this would be human caused? I know that that is largely what causes forest fires in this part of the country.
OFFICIAL: Yeah, so that the cause of cause of the fire was related to human activity. It was an open fire. There was nobody in the area when the crews arrived on scene. That makes it impossible to hold the person or people responsible to account. And yeah, that's frustrating to everyone.
REPORTER: But it can you say like the location of the start of the fire more precisely?
OFFICIAL No, I can't…I don't have any details. It is an ongoing investigation and there's no details…
REPORTER: This is the Susies Lake Fire, right?
OFFICIAL: Yeah. Yeah. Correct. Yeah. I'm sorry I don't have any additional details other than it was it was human activity.
REPORTER: Was there a homeless encampment in this area where the fire where your crews responded to?
HOUSTON: I think again, sorry, but I think like the investigation in time we'll look at, you know, the what, the why, the how, all those types of things. 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 obey the laws that are in place right now. But the actual cause and stuff, that investigation will take place after we get through this.
FULL AUGUST 13, 2025 PRESS CONFERENCE
HOUSTON: “I think again, sorry, but I think like the investigation in time we'll look at, you know, the what, the why, the how, all those types of things. But for right now the focus is just on containing the fire.”
TRANSLATION: We have no interest in facts, or forest wildfire prevention, while we continue to spend 100 times more money on climate change, and ban hikers.
Well well. So leave the homeless in there - get one of them to start a fire and then let them disperse before you get there! Brilliant no one will figure that out!
Keep all preying eyes except drug addicts out of forests so no one knows really what you are up to! And guaranteed you are up to something!