Fire at abandoned Halifax school ‘escalated quickly’ Sunday morning

Flames are seen rising from the abandoned Bloomfield school in Halifax after it caught fire on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Source: Ryan Charlton)

A vacant school on Agricola Street in Halifax caught fire early Sunday morning, said the Halifax Professional Fire Fighters in a social media post.

Firefighters responded to reports of a fire at approximately 1:35 a.m., at the abandoned Bloomfield School at 2786 Agricola Street, said a Sunday news release.

On arrival, crews discovered fire on the first floor and basement. They attacked the fire after removing barricades and boards from windows before the condition of the building and extent of the fire forced them to change to defensive operations, said the release.

“The fire broke out shortly before 2 AM and escalated quickly,” said the post on X, which described the event as a “3rd alarm structure fire.” This was corrected to a second alarm fire in the news release.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to one section of the building by working for hours in cold, icy conditions, said the release.

Heather Fader lives close to the Bloomfield school. She said she was forced to evacuate her home after a loud “bang” on the door woke her at approximately 3 a.m.

“I was so scared,” said Fader. “I kept praying ‘God, please don’t let my house go up in flames’ and that’s all I could do.”

Fader said she often calls the police after seeing people break into the building.

Almost 50 firefighters responded to the fire and brought it under control at approximately 5:45, a.m. One building was destroyed.

Halifax Regional Police said parts of Robie and Agricola streets were closed Sunday morning and there could be traffic delays.

Halifax Professional Fire Fighters said the incident underscores the need to add more staff even after investments from the Halifax Regional Council.

“Nearly half of the available daily minimum staffing across our 5,700 square kilometer [sic] municipality,” attended the fire, said a second Sunday news release.

The fire was one of several major incidents in a 24-hour period including another structure fire, hazardous materials calls and regular emergency responses.

The Bloomfield School has been a point of contention among locals and policy makers after complaints the site is dangerous and unsightly, evidence of squatters and vandals at the site and failed plans for redevelopment.

The fire remains under investigation.

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