Fire destroys building at former Bloomfield School site in Halifax’s north end

One building has been decimated in a fire that brought 49 firefighters to the old Bloomfield School in Halifax’s north end.

The former school was the scene of a three-alarm fire early Sunday morning. Fire crews were called to the property on Agricola Street around 1:35 a.m. and, through barricaded doors and windows, found a blaze on the first floor and in the basement of one of the wings of the former school.

Since the building had been abandoned for some time, crews needed to remove barricades and boards from windows to gain access. According to Halifax Fire and Emergency, due to the condition of the fire upon arrival, crews adopted defensive positions to contain the blaze within the portion of the building facing Agricola Street.

“This was a significant and quickly developing fire,” a spokesperson for HRFE wrote on X.

Nearly 50 firefighters responded, along with several pieces of equipment, including two aerial ladders. The response accounted for nearly half of the available daily minimum staffing across the entire municipality, according to the Halifax Professional Fire Fighters Union.

“We recognize and appreciate the investments Halifax Regional Council has made in fire service staffing over the past eight years. These investments have strengthened our response capabilities, and we are grateful for their continued support in building a more resilient fire service,” Brendan Meagher, president of the HPFF said in a statement. “We must continue to add staff and response capabilities to meet the demands of our growing city.”

HRFE reported that the fire was brought under control around 5:45 a.m. on Sunday. One building at the site was destroyed, but the fire did not spread to other sections of the former school thanks to a coordinated and efficient response.

“We commend the courage and fast action of numerous fire crews who worked in difficult and dangerous conditions to contain this fire,” HRFE said.

“Firefighters battled through bitter cold, contending with freezing handlines, frozen air packs, and difficult access to the structure, all while working tirelessly to protect lives and property,” Meagher added.

Halifax Regional Police closed several streets in the immediate area, including Robie Street between Almon and May Streets, and Agricola Street between Almon and McCully Streets. These closures were expected to remain in place for some time as responders continue to ensure safety and investigate the cause of the fire.

No injuries have been reported.