Residents displaced by fire at Halifax heritage building

Residents of heritage building displaced by fire About 25 residents are displaced after a fire ripped through a heritage building in Halifax’s south end. Ron Shaw has more.

More than 20 people have been displaced by fire at a residential heritage building in Halifax’s south end.

Neighbours say they heard an explosion before 2:30 a.m. and police and fire crews responded to the 15-unit building on Inglis Street a short time later.

“There was a Halifax Regional Police officer who came pounding on our door in the middle of the night and I observed him going back into the building a number of times, checking for residents,” said one resident.

Officials say flames were shooting from the roof when crews arrived on scene.

“The first arriving crew reported heavy fire in the back of the building on all three floors. The fire did get inside,” said Deputy Fire Chief Roy Hollett Tuesday morning.

The building is divided into several condominium units. About 25 people live in the building. They all made it out safely and no injuries were reported.

The Canadian Red Cross is assisting the residents. A comfort centre for the displaced residents has also been set up at the Halifax Forum complex.

Inglis Street was closed from Tower Road to Victoria Road. Surrounding side streets were also closed as crews continued to monitor hot spots and fight flare-ups throughout the day.

The building sustained significant damage in the fire.