Queens RCMP look for public’s help in Pleasantfield blaze

(Photo via RCMP NS Facebook page)

RCMP are asking the public for any information about a fire that destroyed a seasonal residence in northern Queens County on Sunday afternoon.

Queens District RCMP say that police and firefighters from the Liverpool Fire Department, North Queens Fire Association and the Greenfield Fire Department responded at 2:15 p.m. to the blaze on Old Garden Road in Pleasantfield near the 1000 block.

The house was destroyed within minutes, police said in a Monday news release.

The cause of the fire is unknown. As part of the investigation, police are asking anyone with information or who was travelling on Old Garden Road before or at the time of the fire to contact Queens District RCMP at 902-354-5721. 

People can also leave an anonymous tip at Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure tip online at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or by using the P3 Tips app.

Plan needed for long-term water viability, Queens councillors say

 

Queens regional councillors are looking for ways to help prevent more water crises in the region. (Henryk Niestroj via Pixabay)

While residents and businesses in the Liverpool area are being asked to cut back on water, Region of Queens councillors want to find ways to improve communication and deal with any future water shortages.

Last week, councillors asked for a comprehensive staff report on the region’s water and wastewater systems. They also want staff to develop a communication system to inform customers quickly when problems arise.

Municipal water users in Liverpool and parts of Brooklyn have been asked since Nov. 1 to restrict their water usage. 

Water levels in the Town Lake Reservoir are too low to support the town’s usual consumption. 

The region has warned people that without significant amounts of rain, more drastic measures may have to be taken.

Mayor Scott Christian said it’s important to investigate longer-term solutions.

“It has appropriately alarmed a lot of our residents and a number of members of council as well,” Christian said.

“So I think it’s appropriate that we ask those questions in terms of how are we going to avoid situations like this in the future. What’s our Plan B? How can we make sure that we do all we can to protect against known or foreseeable risks to the stability or the dependence of our water supply?” 

Other councillors said they were also worried how the water supply could be affected if the Liverpool Fire Department needs to respond to a fire.

Liverpool fire chief Trevor Munroe could not be reached for comment Monday.

District 3 Coun. Courtney Wentzell said the region needs to address problems with its existing infrastructure.

“I think we’ve got an infrastructure problem on the west side of Liverpool from the town well to Union Street. This is very, very serious. We need to know what Plan B is, we need to look ahead and we need to look after people that already hooked up before we start hooking up new.”

The region has been criticized in the past for its efforts at spreading the word about water problems.

In summer 2023, the region imposed a boil-water order on municipal users. 

But some businesses and residents complained that they didn’t know about it until days after the order was issued. 

People were also upset at what they saw as a lack of transparency about the reasons for the order.

Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton said residents and businesses need to be informed more quickly and more directly.

“I’m also running into a lot of residents who are unaware that they’re supposed to decrease their water usage right now, so I think that this is critical that this happen so that residents can be alerted when needed in a very quick manner.”

CAO Cody Joudry could not give councillors a timeline for when staff will complete their report.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Cleanup begins at razed Liverpool property after asbestos found

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

Family homeless after Liverpool house fire; car crash snarls traffic in Brooklyn

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

Elusive owner of fire-ravaged house in Liverpool ordered to clean up site

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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Fire at former Bowater site quickly contained

A partially demolished large industrial building

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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Christmas parade returning to Liverpool

Logo depicting a cartoon image of Santa Claus

Contributed by Terrena Parnell

A Christmas tradition is returning to Liverpool.

The 11th annual Liverpool Fire Department Christmas parade is scheduled for November 28.

Co-chair of the organizing committee Terrena Parnell says the parade was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, but with restrictions easing this year it’s time to bring the event back.

“We felt that with the gathering limits lifted that it’s a great time to try and help people get into the Christmas spirit after the last 19 – 20 months that we’ve had,” said Parnell.

She and co-chair Diane Warner posted the notice to social media at the start of the week that they would once again organize the event and already over a dozen groups have committed to participating.

Parnell expects people will see all their favourites return this year including: marching bands, floats, community groups, four-wheelers, fire trucks and of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Even though folks will be in a jubilant mood, Parnell says everyone still must practice COVID precautions including wearing masks and social distancing.

All participants walking or riding in the parade must show proof of vaccination.

Organizers are also working on providing a link to a live-stream of the parade on their Facebook page for anyone uncomfortable with being out in a large group.

Parnell and Warner have set themselves a tough task, trying to put together a parade in a month but Parnell says they are undaunted.

“The first year that Diane and I took it over, it was a month, and we had a huge parade,” said Parnell. “We’re hoping to have the same thing this year, with it just coming back after a year hiatus, we’re hoping that we’re going to have a humungous parade.”

Parnell says the community really gets behind the event with the Liverpool Fire Department, Region of Queens, and RCMP all donating time and resources to make it happen.

The parade will start from the Queens Place parking lot at 6:00pm and make its way through Liverpool before ending at Main and Market streets.

Anyone wishing to participate can contact Parnell (902-350-2762) or Warner (902-354-8177) through the Liverpool Fire Department Christmas parade page.

Parnell says she’s excited to once again be in the parade and look back on people who have come out to watch and share the Christmas spirit.

“I get to see the faces of kids and that is the most important thing,” said Parnell. “It’s all about community and it’s all for the kids.”

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

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Experts offer fall fire prevention tips

A thermostat

Photo Ed Halverson

Fire prevention experts say people should take a few simple steps before turning on the heat this fall.

As temperatures drop homeowners are powering up their electric baseboard, cranking their oil furnaces and lighting their fires.

Captain John Long with the Liverpool Fire Department says a few precautions can keep people safe as well as warm this season.

“It’s the time of year to change the batteries in your smoke detectors,” said Long. “We’re getting to the wood burning season so make sure everybody’s cleaning their chimneys before they start that.”

Long says anyone who isn’t comfortable with heights or doesn’t have the proper equipment should look for help before attempting to clean their own chimney.

“You can do it yourself if you have the gear but it’s, I’d say better, it’s safer to have somebody else do it, especially somebody that’s trained. They’re going to do a good job and you’re going to be happier for it. I’m not saying don’t do it yourself but if you don’t have the equipment to properly do it, let somebody do it for you,” said Long.

Many people also like to tidy their yards by raking and burning their leaves.

Long says to better reduce the chance of those fires getting out of control people should take advantage of the municipality’s yard waste pick up days.

“Bag it up and put it out to the end of the road or if you’ve got a trailer, haul it to Western Head to the Region’s yard waste site. It’s free. It doesn’t cost you anything other than your time. It’s a much better option,” said Long.

Regardless how your home is heated, Long says having someone who knows what they’re doing come and check out your heating system can give you peace of mind in the cold months ahead.

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

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Liverpool Fire Dept to use $20,000 for new life-saving equipment

Fire truck parked in station

Liverpool Fire Engine. Photo Ed Halverson

The Liverpool Fire department will be more nimble in their responses thanks to a $20,000 provincial grant.

The fire service is one of 65 organizations across Nova Scotia, which will benefit from the Emergency Services Provider Fund.

Captain John Long says the department will be replacing their existing hydraulic combination cutter/jaws of life tool and ram with new lightweight battery powered models.

“It’s going to make us much more versatile,” said Long. “For that car that’s 300 meters well off the road that’s really hard to get to, this certainly makes life a lot easier.”

Long says the equipment will be ordered right away but is concerned shortages in manufacturing caused by the pandemic could delay delivery.

“But I’m not sure,” said Long. “If they have them on the shelf, within a few weeks. If they don’t, who knows?”

Long says they’ve been using the existing hydraulic tools for years.

They are still fully functional and will continue to be used until the new equipment arrives.

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

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Students safe after bus tangles with power line

Photo Ed Halverson

A downed power line briefly trapped students inside a bus Monday afternoon.

Shortly after 3:00pm a bus carrying 23 students on route 122 from Liverpool Regional High School, South Queens Middle School and John C Wickwire Academy, encountered the power line on Barss Street in Liverpool.

Captain John Long of the Liverpool Fire Department explains what led to the downed line.

“Another vehicle had hit the pole, or rubbed the pole and pulled the mast off the house. The bus came along and didn’t notice the low-hanging wire and so it got tangled up in it,”said Long. “As soon as they realized what they were in they stopped the bus and called for help.”

South Shore Regional Centre for Education officials contacted the parents of the 23 students on board to make them aware of the situation.

Nova Scotia Power, Liverpool Fire Department, and RCMP worked together to remove the line from the bus.

The ordeal lasted about an hour but with no air conditioning and temperatures approaching 30 degrees in the mid-afternoon, the only relief students had from the heat was to open the windows.

Liverpool Fire Department provided students with bottled water when they were able to exit the bus.

Some parents arrived to pick up their children from the incident site.

SSRCE Communications Coordinator Ashley Gallant says students were checked out by EHS before being released.

Gallant credits the quick actions of the bus driver for ensuring the safety of everyone on the bus.

“Really have to give some recognition to the bus driver who immediately recognized that something wasn’t right and stopped, according to procedures and contacted Nova Scotia Power, as we should,” said Gallant. “So it’s really the best outcome here. Everybody was safe and no injuries.”

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

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