The community of Beaver Bank-Kinsac is picking up the pieces after fire ravaged through its community centre and adjoining volunteer fire station overnight Wednesday.
Capt. Dave Meldrum of the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Service said they were called to the blaze at 1581 Beaver Bank Road at 11:48 p.m., and were still putting out hot spots six hours later.
He said the community side of the building – which houses a daycare, an RCMP community office and a public computer-access facility, was “significantly damaged” and “probably lost.”
“There was both a significant amount of flames and a large amount of smoke produced,” Meldrum said Thursday morning. “It was a large fire at the start but it was well under control by 6 a.m.”
He said the adjoining Beaverbank-Kinsac Volunteer Fire Department was not staffed when the fire broke out. No one was hurt in the blaze.
“That’s under investigation now,” Meldrum said as to how the fire began.
“We don’t have any indication of (it being suspicious in nature) at this time, but the investigation is in its very early stage,” he added, noting fire officials were expected to be at the scene all day.
Due to the strong smell of smoke caused by the fire, the Halifax Regional School Board cancelled classes for students Thursday at nearby Beaverbank-Kinsac Elementary School.
As well, Halifax RCMP shutdown the road in front of the building during the fire, and re-opened it to one lane after 6 a.m. to help get the morning traffic through.
– with files from The Canadian Press.
