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βFire size is usually just an estimate until after the fire is out, when it can be properly measured. Often, an accurate estimate is difficult due to the smoke and confusion that can accompany a large active fire. This is why a fire can end up being much bigger, or much smaller than originally thought.β
Nova Scotia measures its fires using the hectare (short form “ha” i.e. 20ha). The hectare is the metric unit of area measurement and can be considered in the following ways:
1 hectare = 2.47 acres
1 hectare = 100 metres by 100 metres or 0.01 km2
100 hectares = 1 square kilometre
For reference:
Total land area of Nova Scotia: ~5.5 million ha
Forested land area of Nova Scotia: ~4.2 million ha
Source: NS DNR Media Guide to Forest Fires (2009)
https://www.novascotia.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/pdf/Media-Guide-to-Forest-Fires-09.pdf
