The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
NOVA SCOTIA
Spryfield tenants forced out by fire
At least 10 people will have to find a new place to call home after a three-storey apartment building caught fire in Spryfield Thursday morning, less than two weeks before Christmas.
Meanwhile, investigators arrested a 35-year-old Halifax man in relation to the blaze not long after responding to the call, according to a Halifax Regional Police news release.
The unnamed suspect was taken into custody at 9:15 a.m. at a Robie Street residence. Charges were expected to be laid.
Jordan Hobin and his roommate, who live on the ground floor of the Spencer Avenue building, woke up to their neighbour yelling at about 7:30 a.m.
“We kept hearing her scream, ‘Get out, Ronnie, get out. The fire's too strong,'” Hobin said.
Hobin and his roommate tried to go out the front door, but heavy smoke in the hallway forced the pair to escape through the back window.
“We tried to put it out through the window with fire extinguishers, but it was too intense,” Hobin said.
Matthew Landry woke up to the fire alarm going off.
“I woke up, went out in the hallway and seen at the smoke, so I just made a break toward the exit,” said Landry, who also lives on the ground floor. “I was coughing and I couldn't even see anything.”
Crews from seven fire stations, Halifax Regional Police and EHS were sent to the blaze after receiving a call at 7:44 a.m.
“When crews first arrived, we had heavy fire coming out of the first and second floor,” District Chief Dave Slaunwhite said.
Firefighters rescued two people with a ladder from the third floor after they went back inside the building to save their cat, but were unable to get back out.
One man was taken to hospital by EHS for smoke inhalation and minor injuries.
All residents of the apartment building made it out safely, Slaunwhite said. The exact number of tenants inside the apartment was not known at the time.
“It was a quick knockdown, however, with the intensity of the fire it took us probably 15 minutes to get fire control in the building,” Slaunwhite said.
The damage to the building is extensive, leaving at least 10 people displaced.
A Halifax Transit bus was sent to act as a temporary warming centre for displaced tenants.
Landry said he's not sure where he'll go.
“Worst time of the year, too, right? Christmas,” Landry said. “I don't know what I'm going to do to tell you the truth, so if there's anyone out there that could help out, that would be nice.”
Hobin said he will probably stay with his mom, but is upset he may have lost everything in his apartment.
“The last thing I thought was, well there goes Christmas,” said Hobin.
Canadian Red Cross volunteers have arranged emergency lodging and flood, clothing and other basics for nine adults from seven apartments.
Other tenants will be offered similar help if needed, the Red Cross said.