Plumes of smoke filled the skies above Halifax Regional Municipality and residents were evacuated from their homes as a brush fire swept through one of the city’s outlining communities Thursday.
Divisional Capt. Dave Meldrum of Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Service said crews started responding to smoke and flames in the Spryfield area early in the afternoon. By dinnertime, he said there were about 20 fire trucks and 60 fire fighters still battling the blaze, with “several” homes destroyed by the destructive force fuelled by strong winds.
Although between six and 10 homes were destroyed by about 7:30 p.m., Meldrum said no major injuries or missing persons had been reported by then. He said the fire department started making serious progress as the wind died down and humidity increased, but added “this thing is not yet considered under control.”
“The crews continue to work hard on it,” he said.
Meldrum said residents who live on the 800 block of the Herring Cove Road were evacuated from their homes, along with a portion of Purcells Cove Road near Fergusons Cove. He said misplaced residents could seek shelter at the Captain William Spry Community Centre on Kidston Road, where the Canadian Red Cross was on hand to help out Thursday night.
