An asbestos abatement crew cleans up the site at 89 Main St. in Liverpool on Wednesday. (Rick Conrad)

An abandoned property in downtown Liverpool destroyed by fire in the spring is finally being cleaned up.

The historic and unoccupied Hendry house at 89 Main St. was leveled in the May 13 blaze. 

The Liverpool Fire Department referred it to the RCMP for investigation. The RCMP declared it suspicious and asked the public to come forward with any information. 

An RCMP spokesman told QCCR in July that officers have closed the file for now, because there was insufficient evidence to keep the investigation open.

Fire services from around Queens County and RCMP officers responded to the fire at 4:40 a.m. on May 13. Nobody was injured.

On June 11, the Region of Queens declared the property dangerous and unsightly and ordered owner Rosemarie Jacob to clean it up, or the region would do it at her expense. Jacob didn’t appeal the order, so the region began the process to clean up the site.

Mayor Darlene Norman said Wednesday that initial testing found that there was asbestos in the siding of the house. 

The region hired Asbestos Abatement Limited in Dartmouth to do the work. Norman said the company expects to have everything cleaned up by the end of the week.

“They say they’ll be finished by Friday,” Norman said. “The material is being deposited at another facility in Nova Scotia that accepts this material.

“The company indicated that they would have both the asbestos-containing materials removed, other debris on the property removed and the building foundation removed. … It is being done so that’s the important thing.”

Norman said the company has assured municipal officials there is no danger to nearby residents from the asbestos on site.

The cost of the cleanup isn’t known yet. But the mayor said it would be added as a lien to the owner’s taxes this year. 

“(It) would be payable in 2025. And if at that time, the taxes are not paid in full, including the lien, then you would go to our policy regarding uncollected taxes. I believe one year of unpaid taxes and then the tax sale process would start.”

The property had been unoccupied for some time before the fire. And the owner had been difficult to reach, but Norman said the municipality was finally able to find her.

Norman said she’s happy to see the cleanup underway. And while she won’t be running for re-election, she said a future council may decide to try to do something with the property once it’s cleaned up.

“I know many people have been wanting that corner widened. There are some people who want it left historically the way it is. But there’s lots of vocies from people who work at Queens General (Hospital), from people trying to get 18-wheelers around that corner, there’s going to be a huge amount of housing development that’s going to require vehicles going that way, but that will be future decisions by a future council. But at this time, our main goal is to have that corner cleaned up so people can be free of the black tarps and the fencing and the things that are there at this point in time.”

Norman added that because the cleanup cost will be applied to the property owner’s taxes, the region likely won’t release the figure because of privacy concerns.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

A house on Wolfe Street in Liverpool was gutted by fire on Tuesday afternoon. No one was injured in the blaze. (Rick Conrad)

Emergency crews were busy in Queens County on Tuesday as a house fire in Liverpool left a family homeless, and a motor vehicle collision snarled traffic in the Brooklyn area.

The Liverpool Fire Department was called to 61 Wolfe St. shortly after 2 p.m. When firefighters arrived on the scene, the house was fully engulfed, according to Liverpool Fire Chief Trevor Munroe.

“We encountered heavy fire conditions on arrival. No one was injured. We did check the homeowner but he seemed fine.”

Munroe said the home’s residents and their pets were outside when firefighters arrived. 

Fire crews clean up after a house fire in Liverpool on Tuesday afternoon. (Rick Conrad)

Six fire departments from Liverpool, Port Medway, Mill Village, Greenfield, North Queens and Italy Cross were at the scene.

Munroe didn’t have many more details on Tuesday afternoon.

“We’ll do a preliminary investigation and then turn the home back over the homeowner and they’ll bring in their insurance company.”

Also on Tuesday afternoon, traffic was being diverted in Brooklyn after a motor vehicle collision in the Sandy Cove area.

Few other details were available late Tuesday afternoon. RCMP could not be reached for comment. 

QCCR will publish more details as they are available.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

The house at 89 Main St. in Liverpool before fire destroyed it on May 13. RCMP say the fire was suspicious. (Top photo: Google Streetview; bottom photo: Rick Conrad)

Queens District RCMP are asking for the public’s help in investigating a ‘suspicious’ fire at 89 Main St. in Liverpool in May.

“In this case, because the investigation is ongoing, I can’t provide additional comments without jeopardizing the integrity of the investigation,” RCMP spokesman Cpl. Guillaume Tremblay told QCCR on Wednesday.

“But I can tell you from the information gathered, it does indicate it is suspicious in nature. And we are looking for tips from the public to advance the investigation.”

Fire services from around Queens County and RCMP officers responded to the fire at 4:40 a.m. on May 13. The historic house, known as the Hendry House, was abandoned at the time. Nobody was injured.

The Liverpool Fire Department referred it to the RCMP for investigation.

The blaze destroyed the house, which local historian Tim MacDonald said was built around 1893 and was owned by former Liverpool mayor, ship owner and businessman A.W. Hendry.

Firefighters tore down the remaining structure. The Region of Queens erected a fence around the property.

And on Tuesday, regional councillors voted to declare the site dangerous and unsightly. They gave the property owner seven days to clean it up.

According to Nova Scotia property records, 89 Main St. is owned by Rosemarie Jacob. It’s one of 14 properties she owns in Liverpool, Brooklyn, Italy Cross, Lunenburg Co., and East Baccaro, Shelburne Co.

If Jacob does not appeal the municipal cleanup order by June 18, the municipality will do it and charge the cost to her as a lien on the property.

There are two mailing addresses listed for Jacob in property records. One is a post office box in Brooklyn. The other is a PO box in Liverpool.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman said Tuesday that Jacob is hard to find.

“Staff have used every avenue they have to contact the owner. However, unfortunately, that owner leaves very little contact information. We have simply been unable to contact the owner.”

RCMP are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact Queens District RCMP at 902-354-5721. If you want to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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This is all that’s left of the historic Hendry House at 89 Main St. in Liverpool after a fire in May. (Rick Conrad)

The owner of an abandoned house on Main Street in Liverpool that burned down in May has seven days to clean up the site.

If she doesn’t clean it up or appeal the order within seven days, the Region of Queens will do it for her and charge her for the cost of the cleanup.

Councillors voted on Tuesday to declare the property dangerous and unsightly and to clean it up.

According to Nova Scotia property records, 89 Main St. is owned by Rosemarie Jacob, who owns 13 other properties in Liverpool, Brooklyn, Italy Cross, Lunenburg Co., and East Baccaro, Shelburne Co.

Only two addresses are listed for Jacob in property records. One is a post office box in Brooklyn. The other is a PO box in Liverpool.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman said Tuesday the owner is hard to find.

“Staff have used every avenue they have to contact the owner. However, unfortunately, that owner leaves very little contact information. We have simply been unable to contact the owner.”

The house at 89 Main St. caught fire overnight on May 13. The Liverpool Fire Department eventually got it under control, but the structure had to be torn down.

It was unoccupied at the time of the fire. 

Since then, the municipality has fenced off the property. But none of the debris from the fire has been cleaned up. 

There’s still a slight acrid, charred smell around the property from the fire.

A screenshot from Google Streetview from 2014 of 89 Main St. in Liverpool.

According to local historian Tim MacDonald, the historic house was built in 1893 and was once owned by former Liverpool mayor, ship owner and businessman A.W. Hendry. 

Liverpool Fire Chief Trevor Munroe told QCCR on Tuesday that they’ve finished their initial investigation and passed it on to Queens District RCMP.

He said there was no power at the property, so it’s unclear how the fire started. That’s why the RCMP are investigating. 

“It could be suspicious, it could not be suspicious,” he said in an interview. “But it could be something as simple as a cigarette if someone was moving the grass or something like that.”

An RCMP spokesman said Tuesday the investigation is still ongoing.

Mike MacLeod, the director of planning and development for the region, told councillors on Tuesday that the municipality has received a number of complaints about cleaning up the site.

QCCR is trying to find the owner for comment. If we are able to reach her, we will update this story.

According to property records, Rosemarie Jacob bought the house in 2002 from Erwin Keller of A & I Keller Investments Limited.

Before that, it was owned by the McConnell family from 1973 to 1999.

Council voted on Tuesday to give Jacob seven days to clean it up. Unless she appeals the order by June 18, the municipality will do it and charge the cost as a lien against the property.

Norman says it’s an issue of public safety.

“In the absence of an owner, we are moving ahead with the motion made today. Seven days to file an appeal and if we do not hear from the owner by June 18, then we will be moving ahead and cleaning up the property.”

Another property owned by Jacob that appears to have been abandoned is on Court Street. That’s just off Main Street and behind the former Mersey Hotel, which is itself in bad shape but is currently occupied by various residential tenants.

Jacob also bought the Court Street house in 2002 from A & I Keller Investments.

Norman said she couldn’t comment on the Court Street property or any other Queens County properties owned by Jacob. 

“Our bylaw officer has many files that she is presently working on. I cannot comment on the one you’ve made, however, there are various properties that are going to be coming forward to council.”

If Jacob appeals the order, the municipality will schedule a public hearing.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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A water bomber flies through the smoke of a forest fire in Shelburne County. Photo Communications Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston wants to ensure every bit of available help is coming to fight the largest forest fires in the province’s history.

A letter sent from the Premier’s office to the Prime Minister Wednesday lays out a long list of needs including military personnel and equipment, helicopters, vehicles and temporary housing for firefighters coming from out of province.

An update provided by the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables Thursday morning shows approximately 20,000 hectares are burning across 16, the largest wildfire is in Barrington Lake in Shelburne County at 18,173 hectares.

During Thursday’s briefing, Premier Houston said the list of requests included in the letter is not meant to be exhaustive.

He is asking the federal government to inform Nova Scotia of other supports that could be helpful instead of waiting for a request.

In the letter he states, “You know your resources best and know what can help in a situation like this. Given the seriousness, any other resources at the disposal of the Federal Government that we haven’t mentioned but could help, please send. We ask for your common sense and support. If we have used the wrong terminology in any of our asks, or there are issues with the format of the ask, please be proactive and help us assist struggling Nova Scotians as quickly as possible.”

Houston says he learned lessons from Hurricane Fiona in September of 2022 that he doesn’t want to see repeated in this emergency.

“Once we’d kind of been through the urgency of the crisis, in my discussions with the Prime Minister, he looked me in the eye at one point and said the Nova Scotia didn’t fill out the proper forms and that’s why the support hadn’t come as quickly. I of course disagreed with that assessment but suggested that even if that assessment were true, there’s a time to act and there’s a time to get more fulsome paperwork later, and there was a time to act and it was missed,” said Houston.

“So, with that experience in mind I was not willing to leave any room for a repeat when people’s houses were literally burning. So, we fill out the paperwork and we go through the channels but at the same time it’s my hope that the Prime Minister and members of cabinet, members of parliaments recognize that there’s a time for action and the time for action is right now.”

The Premier’s letter also looks ahead for ways the federal government can support Nova Scotia once the fires are out.

The province is looking for early access to federal disaster relief funding through the Disaster Financial Assistance Agreement, and commitments to match Red Cross donations and rebuild critical infrastructure.

Houston also asks for Ottawa to provide a temporary leave benefit to assist people unable to work because of being displaced or firefighters taking time from their jobs.

The Premier said in a normal year Nova Scotia would face fewer than 100 wildfires. This year there have already been 196 and counting.

He said the increase in number and size of the fires has overwhelmed provincial resources well beyond what they are normally prepared to fight.

While thousands of people have been displaced, Houston says the situation could be much worse if not for the bravery and dedication of everyone involved.

“We’ve never faced wildfires like this before and we have them all at the same time. I think the remarkable thing that people should not lose sight of is zero missing people. Zero reported deaths. Zero serious injury. I mean, that says a lot about the response,” said Houston.

Fire crews are fighting a forecast calling for dry conditions and temperatures in the 30-degree Celsius range Thursday.

A reprieve may be on the way as Environment Canada is calling for showers to begin overnight Friday and rain continuing to fall over the weekend through Tuesday.

A team of Nova Scotia firefighters is expected to return from the Northwest Territories to join the effort this weekend.

The province has already received support from other provinces in the form of water bombers from Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick and firefighting personnel from Prince Edward Island.

Another press briefing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon to provide an update on how the firefighting efforts are proceeding.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

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A fire broke out as crews were demolishing part of TMP plant at the former Bowater site. Photo Valerie Wamboldt

Monday’s fire at the former Bowater plant was quickly brought under control by fire services from across Queens County.

Fire crews responded to page at 4:56pm Monday on the old mill property and arrived to find a fire at the former TMP plant.

Liverpool Fire Department spokesperson John Long says the plant was being demolished and it appears that work may have been the ignition source.

“They were using some cutting devices which may have caused the fire.”

Long says all Queens fire departments were on the scene except for Mill Village who stood by at Port Medway.

He says the fire was contained quickly and did not spread to any other buildings on the site.

Long says it took approximately three hours for the 50 fire personnel to knock down the blaze.

“There were no unique challenges just a lot of stairs to get to the top.”

Long says crews planned to return Tuesday to ensure the fire was completely extinguished.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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Cars burned by fire Photo Pam Innes-Westhaver

A local racing organization is looking for help identifying the person responsible for setting fire to three cars.

At approximately 5:30pm Sunday night someone entered the track area of the Roughneck Offroad Racing Club destroying the vehicles and ransacking the canteen.

Club president Pam Inness-Westhaver says they’re hoping the public can provide information on who did it.

“We have a description of a vehicle. As of today, [we’re] waiting to see what the RCMP say on that. We have some tips on a person, a description of somebody coming out around that timeline but nothing has been 100 percent confirmed at this point,” said Inness-Westhaver.

Located off exit 20A on Highway 103, the track has been in operation for close to 30 years.

Inness-Westhaver says over the ten years their organization has been using the track for stock car and off-road races she’s seen the odd break-in or minor vandalism but never damage to this extent.

She’s says the cars that were lost were mainly being used for parts and the damage could’ve been much worse as a good deal of heavy equipment such as loaders and excavators were parked alongside the burned vehicles.

“Thankfully they picked three cars that, at one point had been owned by somebody else but now had just been left there for the track,” said Inness-Westhaver.

Fire crews were quick to respond and extinguish the flames.

Inness-Westhaver says the 50 members in their club come from all over the Maritimes to race at the track.

She says it’s fortunate people were in and out of the site that day preparing for races taking place this weekend when the fire was set.

“If somebody wouldn’t have been going up to paint our grandstands at that time, it’s almost frightening what would have happened ‘cause the cars are right by the woods,” said Inness-Westhaver. “There’s still enough fuel in them to make them explode.”

Inness-Westhaver says they’ve forwarded the information they have to investigators and are asking the public to come forward to RCMP with anything that can help identify the people responsible.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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Liverpool Fire Engine. Photo Ed Halverson

Liverpool firefighters were surprised when a fire call came from their own hall on Tuesday.

Captain John Long was at the Liverpool Fire Hall that morning delivering first aid training when he heard the alarm go off around 8:30.

A fire had broken out in the apparatus bay at the back of the hall.

The fire knocked out power to the department’s paging system so the call went out by text to the member’s phones.

Despite the change in routine, the bulk of the Liverpool fire service were quick to respond.

“Everytime a door opened, more crew came flooding in to see what they could do,” said Long.

He said the power was also cut to the automatic garage door openers which made moving the engines out of the bays difficult.

What really stood out for Long throughout the incident was the teamwork and camaraderie of the members.

“I’ve worked with this crew on how many structure fires before. Never have I been the first person on scene at ours,” said Long. “But just watching them come through, and everybody dug in. It was great to see and not surprising at all, but it was almost magic.”

Port Medway, North Queens and Greenfield fire services responded to the mutual aid call, but the fire was knocked down by the time they arrived.

Long said the damage to the hall and equipment was minimal. Crews had the water from the sprinklers mopped up and the soot from the fire cleaned by mid afternoon.

The department didn’t miss a beat as they turned out to fight a chimney fire that evening.

Because the situation turned out so well, Long said he can look at the lighter side.

“I can remember back when our teachers in school [were] teaching us the definition of irony, they always used the example, the fire hall catches on fire. That’s a great example of irony.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation but Long said it appears to be electrical in nature.

Even though everything turned out well Long expects members will discuss the fire at their meeting this week to determine what went right and how they can be better prepared to deal with a fire I n the hall.

“There’ll certainly be an evaluation of, is this the best we can do for preparedness? We now know it can happen. At the end of the day, nothing may change and that may not be a bad thing. Maybe this is the best that can be done.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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