'It's gone,' condo owner says after fire hits Halifax heritage building

It took Halifax firefighters nearly 12 hours to put out a large fire that started early Tuesday morning at a 15-unit residential buildingin the city's south end.

Brian Gray, deputy chief of operations for Halifax Fire and Emergency, said the fire at theInglis Street building was out by 2 p.m. and crews were mopping up. They are looking for the cause.

The building was constructed in 1887 and is a municipally registered heritage property. The eastern side is badly damaged.

"It's not structurally sound any more. A lot of smoke and damage through the rest of the building," Gray said. "I wouldn't think anybody would be occupying it any time soon."

Deputy fire chief RoyHollettsaid about 25 people safely fled the building and there were no injuries. A Halifax Transit bus offered temporary shelter.

The section ofInglis Street that has been closed because of the fireshould reopen this evening.

Halifax Fire and Emergency got a call at 2:26 a.m., Hollett said, and crews found "heavy fire" on all three floors at the back of the building.Flames were shooting out of theroof when emergency crews arrived.

Hollett said three crews were sent into the buildingand the ceilings were pulled down to fight the fire on the top floor and roof.

Karen Shih, who owns a condo in the building,said she felt sick to her stomach. "It's a beautiful old heritage building," she said. She said everyone, and all the pets, made it out safely.

She rents her condo and said the tenants appeared to have lost everything in the fire.

"It's gone. They have no home," Shihsaid."She just told us it seemed to start in the back of the building on the left-hand corner.She could see the flames shooting up the building when she looked out her window."

Policeare asking people to avoid the area, as Inglis Streetis closed from Tower Road to Victoria Road, and surrounding side streets are also closed.