Deputy fire chief stresses safety after three fires in three days

By Meghan Groff

Firefighters in the Halifax area have responded to three fires in three days in Halifax Regional Municipality.

The first in Lower Sackville early Saturday morning claimed three lives.

A 58-year-old man died at the scene, an 11-year-old girl died after being taken to the IWK, and an 18-year-old man who had been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries died Monday afternoon.

Sunday evening, an apartment fire in Dartmouth temporarily displaced 10 people, including a woman who had to be rescued from her third-floor balcony.

Emergency crews were also called to Victoria Rd. and Queen St. around 5:30 p.m. Monday after a fire in a multi-unit building.

Deputy Chief Roy Hollett told NEWS 95.7's The Sheldon MacLeod Show there's a slightly elevated risk of house fires in the winter months because people are home more often and using heat.

“Whatever device you have —  a wood stove, chimney and fireplace, natural gas furnace — whatever the minimum recommendation for having an inspection, make sure you get that done so that the device is working properly.”

Hollett said it's also important to have an evacuation plan in case of emergency and make sure your smoke/carbon monoxide detectors are operational.

“This coming weekend with the time change, our regular message is change your battery when you change your clock.”

He said if you have any questions about smoke detectors, or can't afford one, call 311 and fire prevention officers can help.

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