Fire engulfs commercial building in Halifax

HALIFAX – Fire crews have contained the fire that continues to burn at 5426 Portland Place in Halifax Sunday morning.

As of 12:45 p.m.,  the flames have been mostly extinguished, except for small seed fires in the building's lower level.  These smaller fires are now burning underneath the building's fallen roof and walls.

The Halifax Fire Department says the fire is no longer a danger to nearby buildings.

The building is located behind Staples on Gottingen Street.  The building houses many businesses, including Ravensburg College, a security training school, the head office of RCR Hospitality Group (owners of ONYX, Cut Steak House, Ryan Duffy's and more), and National Art Limited.

“RCR has always been in this building, as has National Art. It’s just been an unbelievable day,” says Elizabeth Newman, vice president of sales and marketing for RCR Hospitality.  “All of our files, all of our computers are in this office.  It’s mammoth.  How we began even our restaurants, our phone lines and what not, are from this server. We’ve got a lot of regrouping to do today.”

People living in at least 22 homes at Portland Place and Cogswell Street have been evacuated.  The fire department says they were living downwind of the fire and smoke.

The Canadian Red Cross is at the scene of the fire.  They say two Halifax Transit buses are being used to give evacuees a safe place to stay until the area is considered safe.

No injuries are being reported at this time.  While Newman believes this day is a tragedy, she says that is something to be thankful for.

"The very good news is that it was a Sunday morning.  There was nobody in the building. And so, no one was hurt."

The Halifax Fire Department says the fire started around 8 a.m.  Reports came in during a shift change.

Halifax Fire is encouraging local residents to close their windows and to go someplace with fresh air because the type of acrid smoke can be harmful.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.  A storage room with furniture and mattresses, however, helped the fire burn quickly.

When asked about what RCR's clientele can do to help, Newman's response was simple.

"Just give us a couple of days, let us get our feet under us, and get reorganized."

CTV Atlantic will continue to update this story as details are released.