A Halifax girl enjoys an ice cream to cool down as temperatures soared to 33 C Wednesday. (CBC)

The blazing hot weather in Nova Scotia has prompted a ban on open fires in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The regional fire service said an immediate ban is necessary because conditions are so hazardous.

Temperatures on the mainland soared to 33 C on Wednesday and are expected to hit 34 C on Thursday. Cape Bretoners can expect only slightly cooler weather.

It was 31 C Tuesday at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, and temperatures in Bedford hit 34 C, making it the hottest Aug. 31 on record.

The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources has suspended all burning permits in Halifax County until there's a significant amount of rain.

Teachers prepare to keep schools cool

The extreme heat had some people concerned about students preparing for the first day of school Thursday.

English teacher Ann Woodworth was preparing her classroom for the arrival of her 31 new students.

"I brought my biggest fan from home, and, luckily, I have blinds in my classroom. I'm on the sunny side," the Halifax high school teacher said Wednesday.

"I'm opening all my windows, bringing water for myself and will let students go for a drink as much as they can and hope for the best."

Doug Hadley, spokesman for the Halifax Regional School Board, said school bells would still ring in the new academic year Thurday morning.

'We don't just close a school because we think people are concerned about the heat.'— Deputy Education Minister Rosalind Penfound

"We've never had it this hot," he said. "I know that's going to make some people uncomfortable for tomorrow and, hopefully, everyone will get over it, and we'll be back in the swing of things come Tuesday."

Rosalind Penfound, deputy minister of education for the province, agreed.

"We don't just close a school because we think people are concerned about the heat; we close them because we think there is a genuine health issue," she said.

"With respect to individual schools, if a principal becomes concerned that the school is particularly intolerable and for some reason they can't get the right ventilation or whatever, they would consult with the board and a decision would be made at that level."

Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief public health officer, said basic precautions should help people through the heat.

"Maximizing ventilation, fans, windows, keeping kids indoors or in the shade during recess and lunch, making sure there's readily available water and fluids for them," he said.

He said that especially applies to seniors, children and people who work outside, because the high humidity makes it feel like it is 40 C.