Nova ScotiaResidents in the Mulgrave, N.S., area were dismayed to find out over the weekend that the new hall of the Seven Communities Volunteer Fire Department had been targeted in a break-in.Spare fuel containers among the items taken from the Seven Communities department near MulgraveMeig Campbell · CBC News · Posted: Oct 14, 2025 6:21 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoThe Seven Communities Volunteer Fire Department hall near Mulgrave on Highway 344 was broken into over the weekend. (Doug Halfpenny)Residents in the Mulgrave, N.S., area were dismayed to find out over the weekend that the new hall of the Seven Communities Volunteer Fire Department had been targeted in a break-in.Doug Halfpenny, the chief of the Guysborough County department, said he and his grandson were dropping off items for an upcoming open house when the boy noticed the door to the hall had been forced open.They discovered several items had been stolen, including hats, hoodies and insulated coffee mugs donated by local businesses, in addition to windshield wiper fluid and spare fuel containers. “That was what really hurt the most, losing the fuel, right? Because of an emergency. We need it,” said Halfpenny.Work had just wrapped up within the last week on the new hall connected to the building that has housed the department’s trucks and equipment for the past dozen years. While the monetary value of the stolen items did not amount to a lot, Halfpenny said the break-in has still been distressing to the community that donated many of those items to the department. “It’s more of the thought behind it, right? Because a lot of people put a lot of work into this,” he said. “Everybody’s pissed.”Halfpenny said the incident was particularly discouraging for firefighters who have been on edge due to the prolonged drought and wildfires in Nova Scotia. “We’re on pins and needles all summer, local fire departments around here, because we were just waiting for somebody to be stupid,” said Halfpenny. CBC reached out to the RCMP for details about the break-in but didn’t receive a reply before deadline. After a social media post described what had happened, firefighters, departments and people across the province responded to offer their support, Halfpenny said. “Other volunteer fire departments wanted to know if we need any gear or anything. They were more than willing to loan us some and give us some of their stuff they’re not using but we’re good.” MORE TOP STORIES ABOUT THE AUTHORMeig Campbell is a reporter for CBC Nova Scotia. You can email her with story ideas and feedback at meig.campbell@cbc.ca
‘Everybody’s pissed’: Break-in at volunteer fire department in Guysborough County causes upset
