Halifax regional firefighters work to extinguish a fire in an eighth-floor suite in the Park Victoria apartment building in Halifax on Saturday. Photo by Tim Krochak /Chronicle HeraldArticle contentOne of Halifax’s most recognizable buildings caught fire on Saturday.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 contentAn eighth-floor unit in the downtown apartment complex Park Victoria had flames shooting out its windows by the time Halifax regional firefighters arrived on the scene just before noon. But crews were able to contain and extinguish it fairly quickly, avoiding any large-scale damage at the South Park Street property.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentIn accordance with standard protocol, Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency district chief Brad Connors couldn’t give an official cause for the fire until a thorough investigation had been completed. But he was able to report there were no fatalities or injuries.Article content Onlookers watch as Halifax regional fire crews knock down a fire in an eighth-floor suite in the Park Victoria apartment building in Halifax on Saturday. Photo by Tim Krochak /Chronicle HeraldArticle content“The tenants all got out fine and no firefighters were hurt,” Connors said. “The fire was on the eighth floor, and extended a bit to the ninth, but we got it out pretty quickly and now we’re just cleaning up.Article content“Crews got in there extremely fast to knock it down.”Article contentEarly information from Connors was that the vast majority of residents would be back in their units before the end of the day.Article content Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency district chief Brad Connors at the scene of a fire at Park Victoria apartment building in Halifax on Saturday. Photo by Willy Palov /Chronicle HeraldArticle content“Right now we’ve had to kill the power to the eighth floor, but we’re in the process of getting most of that turned back on; just isolating the fire apartment,” he said. “That one, and maybe the ninth floor apartment directly above it, are probably the only two affected, so the rest (of the tenants) should be able to get back in today.”Article contentArticle contentMany of the Park Victoria occupants looked on as the fire burned and then stayed nearby to get word on when they could return to their apartments.Article content“Initially, I was not that worried, but then one of my friends called me and she asked me to check on her apartment,” Surha Patnaikmi, a six-year tenant, said. “That’s when I got to know that there’s a fire here and then I just got outside to check it out.Article content Park Victoria resident Surha Patnaikmi looks up at the damage from an eighth-floor fire in the building on Saturday. Photo by Willy Palov /Chronicle HeraldArticle content“There was a lot of chaos here at first, and then once I got back to this side (of the building), I could see all the smoke. I’m happy they put it out as fast as they did.”Article contentFourth-floor residents Sean Elford and Dorion Inc expressed their compassion for the tenants in the unit where the fire originated because it was apparent from looking up from the street the damage to the apartment was significant.Article content“They probably lost everything so that’s the really sad part,” Elford said. “But one of the things about this building is that, in order to move in, you have to have tenant insurance first. It’s mandatory, so they should at least be covered.”Article content Halifax regional firefighters work to extinguish a fire in an eighth-floor suite in the Park Victoria apartment building in Halifax on Saturday. Photo by Tim Krochak /Chronicle HeraldArticle content“I’m also sympathetic to the two apartments above it,” Inc added. “I mean, there’s concrete between each apartment, and it doesn’t look like the flames spread into them, but that whole (exterior) wall and those windows are black, so there has to have been some destruction.”Article contentPark Victoria was built in 1964 and has housed the popular restaurant Le Bistro in the ground floor for decades. The building is just around the corner from Spring Garden Road and the Public Gardens. The 21-storey structure was once the tallest apartment complex in Halifax at roughly 65 metres, with about 400 apartments.Article content A Halifax regional firefighter works to extinguish a fire in an eighth-floor suite in the Park Victoria apartment building in Halifax on Saturday. Photo by Tim Krochak /Chronicle HeraldArticle content
Landmark downtown Halifax apartment building Park Victoria catches fire
