Achi news desk-
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after spotting a fire at a construction site in Halifax on Tuesday morning.
Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Service and Halifax Regional Police responded to the fire at the corner of Robie and Almon Streets around 8:20 am
Halifax Fire says flames and heavy smoke from burning roofing materials are coming from a high-rise building under construction.
Smoke is seen over the north end of Halifax on the morning of April 23, 2024. (CTV Atlantic)
“Structural Fire in the Robie Street/St Albans area, smoke from the fire is potentially toxic. Close all windows and close air exchangers if you live on the Peninsula. Residents from the Windsor St Interchange through Point Pleasant Park should follow this advice,” read an alert from the city’s notification system before 9 a.m.
David Mason had a bird’s eye view of the fire.
He is the tower crane operator responsible for the construction of the Richmond Yard Tower.
Mason was sitting in the cabin of the crane, about 200 feet above the ground, when he noticed gray smoke billowing from a roofing machine at about 8:15 am
“We noticed the flames,” Mason said. “And the four propane tanks.”
Mason quickly called 911 and asked his co-worker to leave the construction site and the construction site.
“Several propane tanks exploded and, at that point, we became concerned for my safety and so we worked on a game plan to get me out of the crane,” Mason said.
Mason said he heard several explosions but visibility was quickly reduced as he was engulfed by heavy smoke inside the tower crane cabin.
“I didn’t really have a good view, like I said, there was a lot of black smoke,” Mason said. “And for my safety I turned my back away from the fire.”
Mason said he was scared, not for himself, but more for his colleagues. In the end it was deemed safe for him to lock up and leave the crane.
“I put the 911 operator on speakerphone, and I slowly climbed down the crane to safety,” Mason said.
He remained in contact with the 911 operator the entire time, in case something went wrong.
Pictured is tower crane operator David Mason on April 23, 2024.
District chief Pat Kline, with Halifax Fire, said the tenth floor of the building was engulfed in flames when crews arrived.
“Our crews had a few access issues because it’s a building that’s under construction. We had to run water up through our air truck. The crews got two hoses on the fire fairly quickly,” said Kline.
“The fire was knocked down probably 15 or 20 minutes after we got some water on it.”
Kline said damage from the fire was limited.
“There was very little damage to the tar pot and the materials used, but the roof appeared to be mostly concrete, so it may be salvageable,” he said.
“There were no injuries.”
Once the fire was out, Halifax Regional Municipality repeated its warning.
“Residents and businesses near the fire should still keep windows closed and turn off air exchangers until air quality conditions improve in the next few hours as a precaution,” the post reads.
Halifax Fire says no nearby buildings have been damaged and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Mason wasn’t sure how the fire started but said it could have been a lot worse.
“Everyone was able to evacuate quickly,” he said.
