Halifax regional firefighters douse the remaining hot spots after knocking down a fire on the fifth floor of an apartment building at 81 Primrose Street in Dartmouth on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Photo by Tim Krochak /THE CHRONICLE HERALDArticle contentHalifax Fire responded to a call Wednesday at a Dartmouth apartment building that was at the centre of a class action in 2021.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentFirefighters arrived in the morning at 81 Primrose St. after a report of a fire on the fourth floor of the five-storey building.Article contentArticle content“We had reports of a fire on the fourth floor that was extending up to the fifth floor,” said Jim Stymiest, assistant chief for Halifax Fire, who was at the scene. “We had a first-alarm assignment dispatched but, upon arrival, our first crews saw what they had and they immediately called for a second alarm, which brought 30 personnel to the fire ground.”Article contentArticle contentStymiest said the firefighters made a quick hit on the exterior first to try to stop the fire from advancing to the fifth floor.Article content A Halifax regional firefighter checks for remaining hotspots after they knocked down a fire on the fourth floor of an apartment building at 81 Primrose St. in Dartmouth on Wednesday. Photo by Tim Krochak /THE CHRONICLE HERALDArticle content“Then we put crews inside to get it all clear and make sure the residents were evacuated from those fire units.”Article contentThe assistant chief said there was a lot of fire and water damage and three or four units are uninhabitable.Article contentThere were no injuries reported.Article contentStymiest said investigators know the fire started outside on a balcony, but the cause is undetermined at this time. Fire Investigators are at the scene.Article content Residents look on as Halifax regional firefighters knock down a fire on the fourth floor of an apartment building at 81 Primrose St. in Dartmouth on Wednesday. Photo by Tim Krochak /THE CHRONICLE HERALDArticle contentOn May 19, 2018, a fire broke out at the same Dartmouth apartment building that left one person dead and displaced 150 tenants. Later that year, legal action was taken by several tenants and in 2021 it was certified as a class action.Article contentIn a Chronicle Herald story published on July 16, 2021, Justice Christa Brothers released her decision to certify the class action. Brothers heard the application for certification on Feb. 22, 2021, in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Halifax.Article contentArticle content“The statement of claim alleges that belongings of some residents were damaged or destroyed by smoke and fire, and some residents experienced personal injury and stress, trauma, or emotional and psychological injury,” Brothers wrote in her decision.Article content Fire and police investigators sift through debris in apartments at 81 Primrose St. in Dartmouth on May 21, 2018. The fire left one person dead and displaced about 150 tenants. Photo by The Chronicle Herald / FileArticle contentArticle contentThe statement of claim also alleges that the fire originated in the apartment of the person who died.Article content“It is alleged that the deceased was known by residents of the building to be a careless smoker, and that the owner and property manager received complaints from residents that the deceased’s behaviour posed a danger but took no action with respect to these complaints,” the decision said.Article contentThe class action on behalf of former residents of the building and their insurers names real estate management company Northview GP Inc., building owner D.D. 81 Primrose Ltd, Halifax Regional Municipality, which is alleged to be responsible for monitoring safety deficiencies and enforcing safety standards and the Halifax Regional Water Commission (publicly known as Halifax Water), which is alleged to be responsible for maintaining fire hydrants and alternate water sources.Article content
Crews respond to fire at Dartmouth apartment building involved in class action
