Middle Sackville Apartment Fire Update

USPA NEWS - The municipality encourages residents to register for hfxALERT, its mass notification system, to receive urgent and non-urgent public alerts by phone, email or text. Learn more at: halifax.ca/hfxalert

Yesterday, HRFE met with the building owner and a construction company to discuss next steps and arranged for an excavator to open up the building in key areas to confirm the fire had been extinguished.

The operation was completed by 3 p.m., concluding fire operations, and HRFE has released the property to the building owner.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and a completion timeline has not been determined. HRFE Fire Investigators will partner with the property's insurance company and their fire investigator to identify the origin and cause of the fire.

HRFE members were also available throughout the day to assist residents in recovering their possessions, where it was safe to do so.

The apartment building, which contains 64 units and approximately 180 residents, is heavily damaged as the result of the fire. Fortunately, according to the municipality, no injuries were reported. Furthermore, due to the rapid response by Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE), the fire did not spread to an adjacent building.

An evacuation centre was opened on Monday, September 15, at the Springfield Lake Recreation Centre, 266 Lakeview Avenue, Middle Sackville, to support residents impacted by the fire. The Red Cross has been conducting in-person registrations, and as of 9 a.m. today, 61 out of 64 units in the apartment building had registered, representing a total of 139 residents. Although there are currently no residents at the evacuation centre, it reopened today at 8 a.m. and will remain open until 3 p.m. As this is the last day the evacuation centre will operate, residents who have not yet registered are urged to do so. Any residents experiencing difficulty securing short-term accommodations are encouraged to contact the Red Cross through the evacuation centre for assistance.

Halifax Transit has resumed regular service on routes 83/183. For general transit information, call 311 or 1-800-835-6428. Departures line: 902.480.8000 To register for Access-A-Bus, please call 902.490.6681. To book Access-A-Bus, call 902.490.6999

The Encounter Church of the Salvation Army is collecting donations to assist those impacted by the fire. The following items are being accepted: bottled water and other hydration products, shelf-stable (non-perishable) food, new clothing, and hygiene products. Donations can be dropped off at 51 Metropolitan Ave, Lower Sackville, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note that furniture donations cannot be accepted at this time. Monetary donations can be made at salvationarmy.ca. Residents impacted by the fire may contact the Salvation Army Encounter Church at 902.865.8010 or email encounter.info@salvationarmy.ca for more information on how to register and pick up items.