A tent is consumed by fire, at the Green Road designated encampment in Dartmouth Friday June 20, 2025. Photo by TIM KROCHAKArticle contentA propane explosion at the Lower Flinn Park encampment has renewed questions about safety in and around outdoor Halifax homeless sites as temperatures drop. 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 contentHalifax Regional Police officers responded to a call at about 8 a.m. on Nov. 9 near the park to assist Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency. No physical injuries were reported. By the time officers arrived, the firefighters were already on site. The fire department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.. Article contentArticle contentArticle contentArticle contentOvercrowded and under strainArticle contentThe municipaliity’s website lists Lower Flinn Park as having capacity for four tents, but at least 20 were reportedly there at the time of the incident. The site is currently in the process of being decommissioned. Article content“Residents on site received notices last week . . . to relocate by Dec. 7,” said Ashton Stephenson, acting director of housing and homelessness for HRM. “They were given over four weeks” Article contentRachel Boehm, HRM’s director of community safety, said the overcrowding was a result of the wooded location, in addition to changing conditions throughout the summer. Article content“The encampment was originally set at four; I think that was given the nature of the space being heavily wooded and, of course, situations evolve” she said. “We could only estimate what number was best. It is difficult with our current structure to control numbers.” Article contentArticle contentArticle contentFire danger in colder monthsArticle contentAs winter nears, the risks of fire in encampments are rising, according to officials, with people struggling to keep warm. Article content“I mean, people are in survival mode. So people are just trying to stay warm,” Stephenson said. “Anybody living outside in the cold is going to do whatever it takes to stay warm.” Article contentHe said HRM has worked with the fire department to distribute safety materials reminding residents not to use propane or fuel-burning heaters in tents and to keep shelters spaced apart. Article contentThere are also security officers and outreach workers making regular visits to identify risks and provide education. Article contentMoving insideArticle contentBoth officials said efforts are underway to move Lower Flinn Park residents indoors before the deadline. Article content“It’s much safer to be inside,” Boehm said. “There are a wide range of indoor options available. Some are communal shelters, some are pallet homes, some are individual rooms. . . . We’re hoping that there’s an option for each person.”
Fire at Halifax encampment highlights safety risks as winter nears
