Hundreds evacuated as fire engulfs Middle Sackville apartment building

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

Halifax Fire crews are on the scene of a significant fire in Middle Sackville early Monday morning that has forced hundreds of people out of their homes.

According to an official, firefighters were called just after midnight to the fire on Hanwell Drive.

“It’s contained to the one building, it’s a four-storey and the whole building is basically on fire,” explained Halifax Fire District Chief Brad Connors. “All four floors have been affected and all the units in the building.”

An evacuation order for a stretch of homes on Hanwell Drive was lifted as of 8 a.m., according to an HFX Alert. People living in the apartment building itself remain evacuated.

“Just due to the houses located in behind the structure and the amount of fire,” Connors said. “We’ve got lines in place to protect those homes from the embers that are falling down.”

The municipality says about 300 people had been evacuated as a result of the fire. An evacuation centre was expected to be open as of 7 a.m. at the Springfield Lake Recreation Centre.

No injuries have been reported from the fire.

Connors said he expected crews would be on the scene for most of the day Monday.