Building at Bloomfield School site destroyed in early morning fire
A vacant building in the north end of Halifax, previously flagged as a safety risk by a fire inspector, was engulfed in flames early Sunday morning. The building, located on the 2700 block of Agricola Street at the Bloomfield School site, was completely destroyed in the blaze.
Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency responded to the fire around 1:35 a.m. and described it as “significant and quickly developing.” It took firefighters about four hours to extinguish the fire. The Halifax Professional Fire Fighters union reported that as many as 44 firefighters were on the scene, facing challenging conditions such as cold temperatures, freezing hoses, and frozen air packs.
Ryan Charlton, who witnessed the fire on his way to work, described the flames as massive. The fire department stated that crews were still at the site to address any hidden fires, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Some roads in the area remain closed to traffic.
Heather Fader, a resident living next to the old school, was evacuated from her home in the early hours of the morning. She expressed fear and concern as ash from the fire fell on neighboring houses. Despite the terrifying experience, she was able to return home later that day.
The Bloomfield School property has been the center of a dispute between the city and the developer, Alex Halef of Banc Investments Ltd. Safety concerns surrounding the site have been ongoing, with complaints about its unsightliness and potential hazards. The developer was ordered to conduct a structural integrity assessment, following which an agreement was reached with the city in November 2023.
Fire inspector Dustin Garnett had previously raised concerns about fires being set in the building by homeless individuals seeking warmth, as well as obstructed entry points that could impede firefighting efforts. The incident underscores the importance of addressing safety risks in vacant buildings to prevent such devastating fires from occurring.
