Massive 2023 Halifax wildfire was beyond the fire department’s capabilities: report

A caller study says Halifax’s occurrence section was not fresh to conflict a awesome wildfire successful 2023 that erupted successful a metropolis suburb.

The occurrence that started connected May 28, 2023, successful Upper Tantallon dispersed quickly, pinch 22 structures engulfed successful flames wrong an hr and astir 128 connected occurrence wrong 4 hours.

The blaze forced nan removal of 16,400 people, and by nan clip nan occurrence was nether power six days later, 200 structures were destroyed — including 151 homes.

The incident study has identified 13 areas for betterment pinch accompanying recommendations, and says nan travel of accusation betwixt front-line firefighters and nan section main must beryllium improved.

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It says location was a deficiency of clarity regarding nan expected consequence from firefighters to nan Upper Tantallon blaze, and that Halifax occurrence officials should make a scheme for really adjacent occurrence departments tin assistance pinch fighting awesome wildfires successful nan future.

Despite nan standard of nan fire, which consumed much than 900 hectares, location was nary important wounded and nary deaths, a consequence nan study says highlights nan spot of nan firefighting response.

This study by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2024.