Halifax firefighters battle apartment fire on St. Margarets Bay Road

Firefighters and emergency crews responded to a serious fire at an apartment building on St. Margarets Bay Road in Halifax on Thursday morning.

Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency said they were called to the the 600 block of St. Margarets Bay Road at 8:25 a.m. AT.

"When the initial crew arrived, they reported heavy fire showing and they went defensive, which means we attack from the outside initially," District Chief Stephen Turner said.

Turner said crews were able to quickly knock down the majority of the flames. He said around 10 a.m. that firefighters were inside, knocking down some of the hot spots.

He said the fire was in the attic area and affected many of the building's six apartment units.

Everyone who was in the building got out safely, Turner said. There were 11 people inside.

Online fundraiser

A friend of one of the families affected by the fire has set up a GoFundMe page and is also accepting donations of household and personal items.

Carla Munroe said the online fundraiser has already received $2,500 in donations. 

Munroe said WIlliam Fraser and Jen Oakley lived at the address with their five children.

She said they were awakened by their dog and managed to escape, but their possessions were destroyed.

"They all got out, which is great, but they had no time to grab anything, not a phone, not a wallet, nothing," she said.

"They're actually in the process of moving. So they have a new home, luckily enough, that they're going to be renting as of tomorrow. But they have nothing to put in it."

Munroe said she's grateful for the outpouring of support and is urging anyone who wishes to donate items to contact her through her Facebook page.

A portion of the road was closed, but the scene reopened around 11 a.m.

Fire investigators are working to determine the fire's cause.