Halifax-area crane that prompted evacuation declared safe after repairs

An evacuation order in a Halifax street due to a dangerous crane has been lifted.

A crane that prompted a large emergency response and evacuation in a Halifax neighbourhood has been declared safe after overnight repairs and inspections, with residents now back in their homes and roads reopened.

The incident unfolded late Thursday afternoon in the Dutch Village Road area when crews working at a construction site identified an issue involving a tower crane. Emergency officials later ordered a precautionary evacuation of roughly 100 residents.

Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE) said it was first called to the site at roughly 4:40 p.m. to assess concerns about the crane’s stability.

Assistant Chief Jim Stymiest said multiple agencies responded, including Halifax Regional Police (HRP), Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, the Canadian Red Cross, Halifax Transit and the municipality’s emergency management division.

“There were roughly about 100 to 250 people evacuated from that immediate area,” Stymiest said.

The municipality says communication during the incident required coordination among multiple agencies, including HRFE, HRP, and provincial officials and emergency management teams.

The municipality said people living directly in the affected area were notified first as the evacuation took place.

Road closure information was shared publicly by police at 5:23 p.m., with broader updates coming later in the evening through municipal channels. A public service announcement issued at 8:52 p.m. included details on the incident, evacuation arrangements and support services.

The municipality said the approach was necessary to confirm details, assess risk and ensure safety measures were in place before broader public communication.

The province says the crane operator identified the unusual activity and took immediate action, helping stabilize the situation.

Occupational Health and Safety officers remained on site overnight while repairs were completed under an engineer’s supervision.

By early Friday morning, officials determined the crane had been stabilized and was safe. Residents were allowed to return home, and road closures and transit detours were lifted.

Halifax Transit routes affected by the incident have since returned to regular service.

Although the immediate risk has been resolved, the province says a stop work order remains in place on the crane until it is recertified. It says the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration will continue its investigation and determine whether any additional compliance actions are required.

Since April 2024, the department says it has conducted 242 crane-related inspections across Nova Scotia, including 163 focused on tower cranes, noting a high level of compliance overall.

Officials say all crane operations remain under ongoing provincial oversight due to the risks associated with construction activity.

No injuries or structural collapse were reported in the incident.

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