Structure Fire at Halifax Recycling Facility Closes Chain Lake Drive
A two-alarm fire involving bales of paper and cardboard broke out at a recycling facility in the Bayer's Lake area of Halifax on Monday morning, leading to road closures and traffic diversions. No injuries were reported.
A section of Chain Lake Drive in the Bayer's Lake area of Halifax was closed on Monday morning following a structure fire at a local recycling facility. The incident was first reported just after 10 a.m. at John Ross and Sons Ltd., located in the 170-block of Chain Lake Drive.
Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency responded to the scene with a two-alarm call. According to officials, employees called in the fire relatively quickly, allowing crews from Lakeside and Bayers Road to arrive within minutes. The response required multiple units, including engine crews, two aerial ladder crews, and district chiefs.
The fire involved bales of paper and cardboard, each weighing over 1,000 pounds. Firefighters faced a labor-intensive cleanup process, having to break apart each bale completely, spread them out, and soak them down to extinguish the deep-seated flames.
Rob Hebb, the HRFE on-duty chief, stated that the quick response prevented the fire from escalating into a more serious incident, noting it could have been comparable to previous events like the Burnside recycling plant fire had the response been delayed.
No injuries were reported from the incident. However, Halifax Regional Police asked people to avoid the area and take alternate routes. Chain Lake Drive remained closed to traffic between Otter Lake Court and Washmill Lake Drive while emergency services managed the situation.