Halifax seeking cost recovery from property owner after Bloomfield School fire

An excavator working on the demolition of the former Bloomfield School in Halifax is pictured on Feb. 20, 2025. (CTV Atlantic/Callum Smith)

The Halifax Regional Municipality is seeking to recover costs from a property owner following a fire that destroyed a building at the abandoned Bloomfield School in February.

The municipality says it installed temporary fencing, established security at the site for public safety and contracted a company to demolish the fire-damaged structure.

The municipality is looking to recover these costs from the property owner.

The fire broke out at the north end school on Agricola Street around 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 16. After crews brought the fire under control, workers tore down unstable walls at the site.

The property, which has been vacant since 2014, was purchased from the municipality by developer BANC for nearly $22 million in 2020.

A demolition permit for the site was approved on March 11. The permit description says the work will involve the “demolition and removal of abandoned school.”

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