A teenage boy has been arrested in relation to a Monday morning fire in Spryfield.
Police and firefighters responded to a fire at a two-storey residence on McIntosh Street, off Herring Cove Road, shortly after 10 a.m.
The preliminary investigation provided concerns for public safety as further incendiary devices were located on the property, Halifax Regional Police said in a news release.
Police are expected to remain at the scene for an extended period of time and surrounding residences have been evacuated. Police are asking the public to stay away from the area until they investigate more thoroughly.
Arriving at the scene, firefighters observed a heavy blaze venting from the main level of the home, said Deputy Chief Dave Meldrum with Halifax Fire and Emergency.
“While en route, we received information from our dispatch centre that there could be miscellaneous chemicals in the home,” he said.
“We upgraded our response and included our hazardous materials team on the call. The firefighters did go in and attack that fire. Everyone had evacuated the home by the time we arrived. Firefighters searched the home twice, as is our practice and found no one inside. There are no injuries. Our HAZMAT team researched the chemicals and there were determined to be small quantities in the home.
“We were able to decontaminate our firefighters using pretty regular wet-wash methods.”
Meldrum said concerns were raised about the possible existence of a dusting sulphur, iron oxide and aluminum powders in the home.
“It’s not confirmed that all of those chemicals or any were present,” Meldrum said.
By early afternoon, Meldrum said the fire department was waiting for fire investigators to arrive to search for the origin and cause of the fire.
Const. John MacLeod said Halifax police assisted with traffic control at the scene and spoke with potential witnesses in the area in an effort to help determine what may have caused the fire.
Meldrum said the fire extended from the main floor to the upper floor of the home.
“There was obvious fire damage on both levels that can be seen clearly from the outside of the home.”
He said no other buildings in the neighbourhood were in danger.
“Our firefighters did a great job, quickly extinguishing the fire and limiting the damage.”
