Road closures and evacuations prompted by concerns over the stability of a crane at a construction site in Halifax’s Fairview neighbourhood are expected to last into Friday.
On Thursday afternoon, Halifax Professional Fire Fighters(HPFF), a local union, said crews were responding to reports of a construction crane at risk of collapse in the area of Dutch Village Road and Supreme Court.
In an email to CityNews, Halifax Fire Deputy Chief Roy Hollett confirmed firefighters were on the scene as of 5:30 p.m.
Hollett said firefighters had a drone in the air to get a better look at the crane, and said an evacuation of about 150 people nearby was anticipated.
“Priority is to secure the scene for safety,” Hollett wrote in an email.
In an update just before 9 p.m., HPFF said firefighters were expected to remain on scene overnight, while road closures and other impacts could remain in place for “an extended period of time”.
“Specialized experts are being brought in from outside HRM to assist with assessing the situation and developing a plan to safely stabilize the crane,” HRFF wrote on social media.
Halifax Regional Police said its officers were also on the scene. People were asked to avoid the areas of Dutch Village, Titus Street, Main Avenue, McFatridge Road, Alma Crescent, Andrew Street, Deal Street and Percy Street.