Downtown core mostly restored after water main break, fire
Posted Jan 13, 2010 07:15:34 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The downtown core has been patched up today, though commuters will notice some effects from Tuesday’s water main break and major fire.
Parts of Prince and Argyle streets have been destroyed by the flooding water from the broken pipe, but drivers will notice only a bumpy road.
There is some ice remaining, but crews were out early Wednesday to spread ice.
South Street is closed to both cars and pedestrians between Hollis and Barrington, and fire crews are back on the scene of the fire that severely damaged a townhouse and several adjoining businesses.
The fire started in an end unit around 8 a.m. Tuesday and firefighters found heavy fire on the second and third floors of the townhouse, which is divided into apartments.
Halifax Fire spokesperson Dave Meldrum says it’s likely there were no fire barriers between the townhouse units.
“It’s common of this age not to be fully partitioned, buildings of this age it’s normal to have a shared attic space,” says Meldrum.
About 15 people were displaced by the fire. Tony Metlej, who owns the apartments, says up to nine units were damaged, some very seriously.
“I’m feeling pretty devastated because it’s a building that we really, really like,” he said. “I hate to see this happen to it.”
The fire also resulted in smoke and water damage to two restaurants next door. Helen Wicha and her husband Jan Wicha own Cafe Chianti, located in the basement.
“I was upset, I was sad,” says Wicha who rushed to the scene after receiving a call from her husband.
“At that point flames were shooting out of the roof so I didn’t know how it was going to end up.”
It’s believed everyone escaped the fire and there were no reports of any serious injuries. The Red Cross helped find rooms for the displaced tenants at the Westin Hotel across the street.
