"A wildfire in the eastern Canadian city of Halifax led to mandatory evacuation orders for thousands of homes, and officials said residents will not be not allowed to return until advised by municipal authorities.

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said the evacuations impacted about 18,000 people.

The orders issued Sunday cover areas of Hammonds Plains, Upper Tantallon and Pockwock. These suburban communities are home to many of the city's workers and are situated about 15 miles from Halifax. Residents in nearby neighborhoods, which are surrounded by forest, were left uneasy throughout the night."

Eric Martyn and Kanishka Singh report for Reuters May 29, 2023. [2]