Halifax munitions depot at risk of ‘catastrophic’ fire, report says
HALIFAX — A major munitions depot in Halifax is at high risk of a “catastrophic” fire that could kill military personnel, destroy millions of dollars worth of ammunition and cause “severe environmental damage,” says an assessment of the facility.
The report by the Canadian Forces fire marshal found that a fire at the depot, which houses most of the weaponry for the region’s naval vessels and bases, was “likely” — with the risk of a fire being deemed high.
It said immediate steps were needed to reduce the chances of a fire at the Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot, which occupies the northern shoreline of the Bedford Basin and also has a missile maintenance facility and loading jetty.
The review was requested by the commander of CFB Halifax and completed in June 2015, and recently released to the CBC.
“Considering the potential for loss of millions of dollars in ammunition, the potential net explosive quantity present and the probability of loss of life, the fire effect severity is set at catastrophic,” reads the document.
The 22-page report found the area around the sprawling complex, which includes ammunition storage magazines, maintenance shops and administrative offices, is heavily forested and not properly maintained, raising the overall risk of a fire.
Some of the magazines are earth-covered bunker-like buildings made of reinforced concrete, with older magazines not equipped with automatic suppression or detection systems.
It said the area surrounding the depot is made up of hardwood and coniferous trees, which burn very hot, with a “significant amount of dead trees and broken branches lying on the ground … which increases the fire index and potential for fire spread.”
The report said maintenance of the vegetation is limited to grass cutting, with fire break maintenance being non-existent. As a result, it says there is an ongoing risk of brush or forest fires. It added that in 2014, Halifax firefighters reported 20 brush fires near the depot.
The review, which examined incidents between 2004 and 2014, also found that many buildings have fire alarm systems, but few have automatic detection. It said there haven’t been any major fires at the depot in that period.
The lightning protection and water systems were determined to be inadequate and not maintained as required. It said that because the water storage reservoir and fire pumps are not automated, they have to be activated manually at a pump house. The system also did not increase the water pressure, the report found.
National Defence did not respond to a request for comment.