Crews respond to fire in basement of Halifax high-rise

Emergency crews respond to a fire on Cogswell Street in Halifax on April 22, 2026. (Paul DeWitt/CTV Atlantic)

Emergency crews are responding to a fire on Cogswell Street in Halifax Wednesday afternoon.

Halifax Professional Fire Fighters says it responded to reports of a structure in the area around 1:30 p.m.

Crews arrived to find a working basement fire in a high-rise building.

Thick clouds of black smoke could be seen in the area.

“Due to fire conditions and the complexity of the incident, the response has been upgraded to a second alarm, bringing additional personnel and apparatus to scene,” reads a post on social media.

“Crews are actively working to contain the fire, protect occupants, and support a coordinated, multi-unit response in a challenging environment.”

People are being asked to avoid the area.

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